We should start using the American flag in conjunction with the BLM flag

I agree and I carry an American Flag when I'm protesting injustice with my BLM signs. I could have pride in my country if it could treat all its people as worthy of the American dream. That's what I'm fighting for.

Claiming your corner of the country is the American way. By claiming the American flag along with the BLM flag, you're creating the America that you want to see. An America where Black Lives Matter. Displaying the American flag with the BLM flags shows neverous folks that you're not trying to tear down the nation. You're trying to bring people together.

malcolm x once said, “... the Negro Revolution is no revolution because it condemns the system & then asks the system that it has condemned to accept them into their system. That’s not a revolution—a revolution changes the system, it destroys the system & replaces it with a better one.“

if we agree with this sentiment, then wouldnt sporting the american flag be us asking for acceptance into this oppressive system?

I agree completely and I would take it a step further and say that BLM should co-opt the Gadsden Flag as well. "Don't tread on me" is the sentiment that started the movement. Call out the hypocrisy of those that claim to be libertarians, yet support the broken policing system that we have.

Edit: Also consider voting for Jo Jorgensen

My neighbor up the street has a double sided BLM/American Flag and it really struck me when I first saw it because I've grown to automatically write off and associate people who sport the American flag with racists and extremists honestly but to do that discredits and dishonors the very people who've built and died for this country and those who are fighting and protesting and working and volunteering and teaching and doing countless other amazing things daily to improve living in America. To me it sends a unifying message and that America belongs to more than just the hateful racist folks.

Very much agree and have been hoping for this for some time.

I've been thinking about how sad it is that I automatically assume anyone waving a flag on the street, or with one on their car or house, is somebody I won't get along with. I totally support reclaiming it. Remind everyone that we're all Americans that want the best for our country. There's nothing un-American about protesting and asking for a better America.

I’m honestly not sure about this.

The US has been the biggest imperialist power in the world post industrial revolution. For me to list all the problems that the US has caused domestic and foreign would be a list so long it will make your head spin. That only includes the things that we know about too.

The phrase “liberty and justice for all” sounds great, but when has this country ever practiced these beliefs to every member of society? It’s not like oppression of Black people started some time after the constitution was written. POC have been marginalized in the US since the country’s inception. The words written and said by the founding fathers are hollow, because the institutions upheld by this government are based on some fake idea of liberal meritocracy. Why should anyone uphold these ideals? When have they ever been fair or just for every member of society?

I don’t think it’s as simple as carrying the US flag during BLM protests and flying it along side black liberation imagery. BLM isn’t just fighting for police reform, it’s fighting for better rights for Black people in every avenue. Political, legal, professional, educational, social, and cultural equality. Will the people in power really let you come in and reform all these institutions without any resistance or at least slander? What American values actually align with the things that BLM is fighting for? You can say something vague like “liberty for all”, but like I’ve said, when has the US ever actually embraced “liberty for all”?

All the things I’ve talked about and I haven’t even got into the horrors that the US has caused abroad. Senseless wars, trade tariffs that have damaged economies, backed coups in countries that didn’t need them, drained countries of natural resources, intervened in foreign elections, diplomacy with another imperialist countries, etc.

In truth, I really don’t want to align myself with this country as it stands and has stood. People may not like me saying this, but I don’t understand how you can be an American patriot in good faith.

True patriotism comes from those who challenge autocratic institutions. It’s what our forefathers did. Blanket and blind patriotism, practiced by typical counter protesters, is more damaging to our democracy than calling for progressive change.

A number of Black people have told me that the American flag in general doesn't rouse positive feelings and how it represents a country that betrayed Black lives.

I understand OP's suggestion though.

My question is, what do the Black members of this group think? Black Lives Matter flags with American flags or just Black Lives Matter flags?

The American empire is a despicable plague on the world and the people of all nations would be better off without it.

So, the American flag is a loaded symbol that has a history of both oppression and liberty. I personally think it should be co-opted to append its meaning to one of reconciliation and building bridges, but it is also understandable that many people hate the falsehoods of America and what the flag represents.

But, to maybe illustrate reconciliation, I’m thinking that people could simultaneously wave and burn the flag, wave it for its ideals and burn it for its evils. (I don’t mean waving burning flags, I mean wave some American flags and burn some other American flags together as a symbolic gesture.)

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Maybe carry it upside down to show America’s in distress

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I wear my BLM gear alongside carrying my flag all the time! 🙌🏾💪🏾🇺🇸

On second thought, we should start taking the symbols that fascist originally took from our ideas of liberty and freedom for all.

Agreed! My husband and I just bought both a BLM and American flag to hang on our home. We want to show that supporting black americans is patriotic.

This is a great idea. I'm white and BLM has opened my eyes hugely. I'm also patriotic as hell and believe that BLM is now a proud part of British and American history.

The flag and BLM are great symbols of what the world can be.

I will happily wave a flag and raise a fist!

I think it would definitely be intereting to see how it would be perceived by the media. Especially since right-wing malitia groups who cover themselves in stars and stripes are always spoken about as misguided patriots and not the dangerous extremist groups they really are

i painted an art that i do solo protests with at my local city central park. Its got my version of the confederate flag on it