Permit unlikely for flag burning

Official says protest would pollute air

By Adam Wilson | The Olympian • Published December 06, 2007

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A Tacoma man wants to burn a Mexican flag on the steps of the state Capitol in Olympia — a move sure to spark controversy and maybe a sanction for polluting.

Nick Bradford said he's upset with the failure of the federal government to secure the borders against illegal crossings and wants the state to do more to crack down on illegal immigrants. He wants to stage a rally at the Capitol in January, when lawmakers return for session.

"Obviously, the protest is intended to get the attention of the public, but also the politicians here, in Washington," Bradford said. "We can't always bark at the other Washington and George Bush. We can do things locally here."

Top on the list, Bradford said, would be allowing local law enforcement to arrest people who entered the country without permission.

'A hate message'

Carlos Aguilera, director of the Hispanic outreach group CIELO in Olympia, said burning a flag is hurtful.

"To me, it's like it's a hate message against Hispanics, just by the fact that if you took the flag of any nationality, you invite the press, burn it — that certainly sends a negative message about that nationality," Aguilera said.

When debates about immigration law peaked in Congress last year, there were pro-immigrant rallies across the country. But legislation since has stalled, and Aguilera said many Hispanics are discouraged.

"The wait period for Mexicans to come across legally is about 12 years. To me, it's almost as if the business and the policy is set up to encourage illegal immigration," he said.

Although it doesn't control immigration, the Legislature has seen clashes over immigrants before. This summer, a Republican senator blasted the Democrat-backed expansion of a health-care plan for immigrant children, saying the public is unaware that the tax money is being spent on "illegal immigrants."

Permit to burn

When Bradford recently called Visitors Services at the Capitol to ask about burning a flag on the steps, officials weren't sure it was allowed.

The Department of General Administration, the landlord for the Capitol, checked with the Olympia Fire Department, which said any burning would have to be cleared by the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, department spokesman Steve Valandra said.

"Flag burning is a form of protected free speech, so if he wanted to get a permit to do this, GA would grant it to him, as long as he abided by whatever other preconditions existed," Valandra said.

There's little chance the clean air agency would allow a permit for flag burning, said Richard Stedman, the agency's executive director.

"Burning a flag produces a lot of toxic materials, such as dioxins, which are contained in the pigments and dyes," he said.

Although a respectful fire is the traditional way to dispose of a worn U.S. flag, the agency advises people to send them to recyclers that make new flags, he said.

"We would probably cite the person for burning prohibited materials. It's illegal to burn anything in the urban growth area," Stedman said.