Sign in

Gadsden Flag Debate: Vivek Ramaswamy vociferously defends 12-year-old, says beyond ridiculous to call flag ‘racist’

A video was posted on Twitter which showed the school’s administrator…

Updated on: Aug 30, 2023, 20:09:12 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Vivek Ramaswamy, America’s self-professed and de facto CEO of Anti-Woke Inc, weighed in on the Gadsden flag debate after a 12-year-old was told to remove the patch from on his backpack. The incident occurred at The Vanguard School in Colorado. The yellow flag features a coiled rattlesnake with the phrase: Don’t tread on me. A video was posted on Twitter which showed the school’s administrator telling the mother the patch had to be removed because of the flag’s “origins with slavery and slave trade”.

Ramaswamy weighs in on the Gadsden Debate
Ramaswamy weighs in on the Gadsden Debate

Reacting, GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said: “The idea that the Gadsden flag is rooted in racism is beyond ridiculous. It served as a warning to King George and Britain not to violate the liberties of American colonists. In fact, in 2014, a USPS worker in Denver, CO filed a complaint of racial discrimination with his employer that dealt with a co-worker wearing a Gadsden flag hat to work. It was held under the law that the Gadsden flag originated in a non-racial context & is *not* a racist symbol.”

Read: Eminem tells Vivek Ramaswamy to stop rapping Lose Yourself

He added: “Our Founding Fathers put free speech in the *First* Amendment for a reason: without it, the rest of the Constitution is toothless. Remember Orwell: the way to control a society’s mind is to control its language first. We’re living in a 1775 moment in this country right now & the American people are tired of being tread on. The Revolution is coming 🐍🇺🇸”

Incidentally, even the US military has used the “Don’t Tread on Me” symbol in war and Navy Seals have worn the message into combat.

What is the Gadsden flag?

The Gadsden flag is also known as the ‘Hopkins Flag’ or ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag. The historic flag was used by Commodore Esek Hopkins, the United States’ first naval commander in chief. He used it during the American Revolution (1775–83), as his personal ensign.

The flag is named after Christopher Gadsden, a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress and brigadier general in the Continental Army, who designed it. He gave the flag to Commodore Esek. Notably, it was unfurled on December 20, 1775, on the main mast of Esek's flagship USS Alfred. Christopher made the flag as a warning to Britain, demanding that it does not violate the liberties of its American subjects. The flag is called the "most popular symbol of the American revolution." The rattlesnake drawn on the flag appears ready to strike. Read more.

  • HT News Desk
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    HT News Desk

    Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.