Climbers hang upside-down flag at Yosemite in protest after layoffs

• An American flag was hung upside down on El Capitan at Yosemite National Park on Saturday, Feb. 22. It was a protest of the National Park Service layoffs by the Trump administration.
• National park and forest employees say fewer workers will lead to longer lines, dirty bathrooms and unsafe hiking conditions.
• A spokesperson for the White House said the cuts are to better streamline federal agencies.

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A protest against the Trump administration caught the attention of visitors at Yosemite National Park on Saturday, Feb. 22, where an upside-down American flag was on display. Six Yosemite employees rigged ropes and rappelled down the El Capitan summit to hang the flag.

The demonstration happened during a seasonal waterfall on the east side of the summit, which turns into an orange glow attracting professional photographers waiting hours for the perfect shot. 

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Brittany Colt was one of those photographers who snapped a photo of the upside-down flag. She later posted the photo to her Instagram page.

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“What I witnessed was a bold statement and a cry for help,” Colt told Straight Arrow News. “With hundreds of public land employees being fired right before the peak season of the National Parks, our public lands are at risk.”

What are the protesters calling attention to?

On Feb. 14, the Trump administration fired around 1,000 national park employees following spending cuts suggested by the department of government efficiency.

National park and forest employees say fewer workers will lead to longer lines, dirty bathrooms and unsafe hiking conditions.

“The Park Service has been low staffed for years, so this is a huge blow to properly managing our public lands safely and efficiently for all visitors,” Colt added. 

A spokesperson for the White House said on Feb. 20, in a statement regarding the cuts, that the Trump administration will “protect America’s abundant natural resources while streamlining federal agencies to better serve the American people.” 

Shortly after hanging the flag, the group of demonstrators released a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, which said in part: 

“The purpose of this exercise of free speech is to disrupt without violence and draw attention to the fact that public lands in the United States are under attack.”

National Park Service spokesperson Andrew Munoz told NBC News the flag was removed shortly after being discovered. He said the action was unauthorized.

Munoz added the agency, “Respects the right of individuals to express their personal views but expects them to do so in an appropriate manner.”

Is it legal to fly the American flag upside-down?

According to the United States flag code, an upside-down American flag is traditionally a sign of dire distress.

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The First Amendment protects individuals who choose to fly the American flag upside down from facing prosecution with the Supreme Court upholding the right to use the flag as a form of symbolic speech.