That news release ended with a statement urging the public "to express themselves in a peaceful way and to not retaliate against unpopular speech." The Urbana Police Department arrested Mellott on Monday in a news release issued later that day, the department said that many people who responded to Mellott's Facebook post "threatened violence against Mellott and his place of employment, which fielded a large number of calls regarding the post." Because it provides context for this story, we'll follow suit in posting it here, unedited: Citing local newspaper the News-Gazette and other media outlets, WILL reprinted the text that had originally accompanied Mellott's flag photo before the message was deleted.
![burning gay flag in us burning gay flag in us](https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/d25bf6d2d23846759a3904f0f6369b86/3000.jpeg)
Mellott didn't immediately respond to a message from NPR seeking comment and clarification of his post. Monday, Mellott posted a note to his Facebook page saying, "So it'd be super-duper if the death threats could stop." Some calls complained about the flag-burning, and others expressed concern for Mellott's safety." As member station WILL reports, "By Monday morning, July Fourth, Urbana Police were receiving calls about it. Mellott's brush with controversy began after he posted a photo of himself holding a burning flag on Sunday night.
![burning gay flag in us burning gay flag in us](https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/IMG_3359_1.jpg)
But the state's attorney says it contradicts the Supreme Court's ruling on this issue. The 22-year-old was released Monday, after questions arose over Illinois' flag desecration law.Įnacted in 2013, that law was the basis for Mellott's arrest.
![burning gay flag in us burning gay flag in us](https://turbocelebrity.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ccelebritiesadolpho-martinez-main-pd-getty-1200x630-900x480.jpg)
One day after Bryton Mellott's photo of himself burning an American flag led to his arrest in Urbana, Ill., the local prosecutor says no charges will be filed against Mellott.