Tavern Owners Press Charges Against Mayor Who Desecrated Confederate Flags

Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Jul. 14, 2020

Ralph Salvagno, the mayor of Hancock, Maryland is facing up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for desecrating two Confederate flags at a local tavern that were painted to honor a Confederate Army veteran.

Mayor Salvagno said he painted over the flag because he thought it "could have sparked anger if recent protests over the death of George Floyd and related incidents had spread to the small town," according to Herald-Mail Media.

HANCOCK — The mayor of Hancock is facing a criminal charge accusing him of painting over two images of the Confederate battle flag on a wall outside the Town Tavern. https://t.co/9SUmaJRxIJ
— Herald-Mail Media (@HeraldMailNews) June 12, 2020

From Herald-Mail Media:

HANCOCK — The mayor of Hancock is facing a criminal charge accusing him of painting over two images of the Confederate battle flag on a wall outside the Town Tavern.

[...] According to the police report, Billie Jean Fisher is "very upset" that someone painted over the flags. She told police her late father, Bill Dugan, had the wall put up and the images done.

[...] The wall is near Breathed Park, named for Maj. James Breathed, a Confederate Army veteran and posthumous recipient of the Confederate Medal of Honor.

[...] One leg of the L-shaped wall sits between the tavern and the park. That part of the wall was decorated with an image of the Confederate battle flag and text that read, "Dedicated to Major James Breathed of the Confederate Army."

[...] A summons charging Salvagno with malicious destruction of property was issued Thursday. No court date has been set. If found guilty, Salvagno faces maximum penalties of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Locals called on Salvagno to resign during a council meeting last week:

During a time devoted to citizens comments at Wednesday's council meeting, town property owner Michael Faith said Salvagno has "done a lot of good for the town." But Faith also said the mayor has lost the support of residents because of the incident.

"I'm just so disappointed at what you did. ... I think the honorable thing to do at this point is resign," he said.

Billie Jean Fischer, who filed a police report over the matter, asked what caused Salvagno to "deface my dad's property. You're lucky he's not alive."

She also asked each of the four town council members if they supported painting over the images. All four indicated they did not.

"I look forward to our day in court. ... Nobody agrees with you on your council," Fischer told Salvagno.

Jerry Landers and Mike Sirbaugh also criticized the mayor.

"You should be gone," Landers said.

It's nice to see not everyone is going along with this Cultural Revolution.

Kudos to the Fischers for standing up to the mob.

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