Supervisors, government leaders condemn Nazi flag flown outside Lower Frederick home

A Lower Frederick Township resident has come under public scrutiny and condemnation from members and boards of local and federal governments for flying a flag emblazoned with a Nazi symbol outside his Meng Road home.

One neighbor told 6abc Action News that the flag – which the homeowner is allowed to fly on private property under the Freedom of Speech tenet of the First Amendment of the Constitution – has resulted in shock and anger from residents.

    (Credit: https://www.facebook.com/streetsmart/posts/pfbid0qhV5egZwf5PzLM3Xbz8HYhhoJR5ZC66rNDPqMtWiFVDYwZn1BvyiuUQQLA8sRBGol)
  

“Why are you so filled with hate? I don't understand," the anonymous neighbor told 6abc.

"I've seen many posts he considers himself to be a historian, so he should know historically that that symbol is going to make a lot of people feel very bad, like they're not safe in the community," said another resident to the news organization.

The flag appeared outside the home at 203 Meng Road at the end of February-beginning of March.

According to some of the more than 1,100 Facebook comments on the PA-Fire&Police group, the flag has been removed from the home, as of Monday.

The red flag had a black and white Confederacy cross on it, with a black swastika in the bottom middle. At the top of the flag appeared to be another symbol in white, possibly an eagle.

    (Credit: https://www.facebook.com/streetsmart/posts/pfbid0qhV5egZwf5PzLM3Xbz8HYhhoJR5ZC66rNDPqMtWiFVDYwZn1BvyiuUQQLA8sRBGol)
  

The incident was posted on Reddit on Friday and garnered more than 160 comments and 2,000 upvotes.

"Flying this flag is showing support for some of the most hateful ideology in the history of mankind," Andrew Goretsky, the regional director of The Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia, told Action News.

Lower Frederick Township Board of Supervisors released the following statement:

"The Nazi flag is a symbol of hate, oppression and violence. It represents an authoritarian regime responsible for the deaths of millions and is a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. 

We, the Lower Frederick Board of Supervisors, condemn all forms of hate and discrimination. While the First Amendment protects this type of expression, we find the flying of the Nazi flag anywhere in our community to be abhorrent, disgraceful, and not consistent with the principles upon which our country was founded."

Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder released a statement on Facebook:

“It is deeply troubling to learn that a Nazi flag has been displayed by a homeowner in Lower Frederick Township. This symbol is one of hatred, violence, and genocide, and it represents one of the darkest chapters in human history. For many in our community—Holocaust survivors, veterans, and families who have suffered from the horrors of Nazi ideology—this flag is a painful reminder of oppression and loss.

Montgomery County is a place that values diversity, inclusion, and respect for all people. While the right to free speech is protected, we must also recognize the profound impact that such hateful imagery has on our neighbors. As a community, we must stand together in rejecting symbols of bigotry and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Montgomery County remains a place where all people feel safe and valued.”

I stand in solidarity with those who are hurt and outraged by this display, and I encourage our community to continue to speak out against hate in all its forms. Let us remain steadfast in promoting education, understanding, and unity in the face of intolerance."

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, D-4, released the following statement in response to the Nazi flag:

"This is an act of hate and a deliberate attack on our Jewish community and our decency. We must call it out. We must push our friends, family, and neighbors to be better - to reject hatred and teach the next generation history and truth." 

Republican State Rep. Donna Scheuren, of the Pennsylvania House 147^th District, condemned the flag and anti-Semitism:

“I think it's terrible for a Nazi flag to be flying in my district or anywhere for that matter. There is no place in our society for antisemitism. In the last House session alone, I personally sponsored five bills and voted seven times for legislation and resolutions in support of the Jewish community and against hate speech in our schools.”