After insisting {that a} CEO’s American flag was an eyesore of their metropolis, a council voted to drive the businessman to take away the show instantly. What they by no means anticipated was that he would have an enormous shock in retailer for them after they arrived at work the following day.
When Tenting World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis places his thoughts to one thing, you’ll be able to anticipate him to attain his desired outcomes. As an orphaned Lebanese who was adopted by a pair in Florida, he is aware of the exhausting work and perseverance it takes to reside out the American dream.
Grateful for the freedoms and alternatives america has afforded him, Lemonis is giving again to his nation in quite a few methods, together with starring within the CNBC present The Revenue, which assists small companies on the verge of chapter. Nonetheless, when he determined to erect an American flag on firm property as a way to present his patriotism, he was quickly launched to governmental overreach.
In response to FOX 46, town of Statesville, North Carolina, voted to drive Lemonis to take away the 40 toes by 80 toes American flag, which waves on a 130-foot-high pole at his RV retailer, citing a measurement violation of a metropolis ordinance, which solely permits for flags as much as 25 toes by 40 toes in measurement. Nonetheless, as an alternative of taking down Outdated Glory, Lemonis had a greater concept.
Regardless of a lawsuit and fines totaling over $10,000, Lemonis shocked town by as soon as once more elevating the large America flag excessive above the skyline. Though town has tried the whole lot to drive him to take down the patriotic show, Lemonis has promised them that the flag isn’t going wherever, vowing to struggle the “unconstitutional” ban.
“Backside line is the flag’s not coming down,” he informed staff. “Give me a motive why this compromises the well being, wellness or security.”
Lemonis has confirmed his seriousness on the difficulty, securing attorneys to struggle town’s lawsuit and alter the ordinance on flag sizes. In response to their declare, the U.S. and state constitutions clearly prohibit authorities “from putting arbitrary or unreasonable restrictions on metropolis’s skills to fly the flag.” As a result of his flag isn’t a security hazard, Lemonis and his authorized workforce are citing his proper to fly an American flag of any measurement on his property.
The submitting says the flag “represents the basic values — freedom, braveness and equality earlier than the regulation — that unite all Individuals and transcend occasion politics. … In step with this custom, The U.S. Supreme Court docket has lengthy acknowledged that the act of flying the flag is a type a political expression protected by the First Modification.”
In response to the Washington Examiner, town is asking for a superb of $50 per day, which might additionally apply retroactively. This might imply that Lemonis could be answerable for paying town over $10,000, because the flag was first erected months in the past. Nonetheless, he’s not budging and has even proposed a change to the ordinance.
“It actually simply comes right down to, for my part, bureaucrats attempting to regulate the dimensions of one thing,” Lemonis mentioned in a earlier telephone interview with FOX 46.
Proving his dedication and unshakeable place, Lemonis posted a video on Twitter of the large flag flying over the RV lot. The clip was merely captioned “Nothing extra to say…” implying that nobody can drive him to take away the banner.
“The flag isn’t coming down. It’s the one factor I do know for sure,” Lemonis mentioned. “I do know I’m going to die. I do know I’m going to pay taxes. And I do know I’m not taking the flag down.”
Lemonis has remained steadfast on the difficulty. He defined that it isn’t concerning the flag, per se, however about his rights as an American citizen. He additionally took to social media to additional specify his causes for defying town at each flip.
“That is about extra than simply the flag. That is about our Veterans, Army, and the women and men which have sacrificed for this nice nation,” Gander Outdoor posted on Fb this month. “They’re the rationale we fly the flag and they’re the rationale we are going to NOT take it down!”
Thus far, the mayor has but to aim to gather the fines imposed upon Lemonis. Nonetheless, town is defending its determination to make him take away the flag, arguing that he ought to accomplish that just because it’s the rule.
“We take our legal guidelines and ordinances very severely,” town responded. “Our doorways are open to any enterprise trying to prosper and develop in our neighborhood. We solely ask that the correct channels are adopted. That’s the first and vital step to any potential change in code.”
Many are standing behind Lemonis and his quest to train his proper to fly as giant an American flag as he sees match. As he awaits the court docket’s determination, he guarantees that, whatever the ruling, he nonetheless gained’t take down our nationwide image.
