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John Daley ReportingLinda Lance, Salt Lake City Resident: "I don't believe the flag should be used as an ornament for the floor covering."
Disrespect for the flag or free speech? The stars and stripes in the office of a public employee is being used as a rug under a coffee table. Is it appropriate?
Eyewitness News got an anonymous tip and a photograph from the Salt Lake Legal Defenders office, showing an American flag being used as a rug in an attorney's office. The tipster found it offensive enough to contact us.
We've probably all seen the American flag used in ways it was not intended, perhaps worn as a cape or even a bikini. Is it wrong to put it on the floor as a rug? Apparently that question has created a buzz at the Salt Lake Legal Defenders office.
The vast majority of us have probably never seen a flag desecrated except when it is burned and captured by a TV camera, somewhere overseas.
The debate is often over public expression. What about this Park City protest on the eve of the Iraq War? And what do you make of the photo showing the flag being used as a rug?
That public defenders office provides legal services to those who can't afford it, at county taxpayer expense. We went there today to find out what the story is.
Reporter: "Somebody said that there was an American flag being used as a rug in Mr. Bevin's office. Do you know anything about that?"
"You know, I think that the office really doesn't think that there is an issue at this point. You know other than that we don't really have any comment."
"Is this his office?"
"You know, I'm not sure, I'm not sure."
We were told Bevin Corey, the attorney whose office the flag was in, was out and might be found at the Matheson Courthouse. He wasn't there, but while we were, we got a call from his office saying that this is an "internal matter" and the "flag has been removed."
People we spoke to on the streets today expressed strong opinions.
Shawn Hunter, Salt Lake City Resident: "That's pretty messed up. That's way messed up laying on the floor like that. Seeing that just makes me want to cry."
Linda Lance, Salt Lake City Resident: "America's a great country. Look back from where we've come from. We should stop all this bull."
Mary Fullerton, West Jordan Resident: "Walking on it, and sitting on it and putting a desk on it. You might as well throw it in the trash for what you're showing respect there, or burn it. That's absolutely not called for."
Calls to the attorney in question were not returned. We asked to speak to the man in charge of that office, John Hill, today. We told he was out of town and couldn't be reached by cell phone.
