Visitors to Yosemite National Park during the "firefall" phenomenon on February 22 witnessed an upside-down American flag hanging over El Capitan Yosemite employees hung the flag to protest the ...

Hanging an American flag upside-down is a nationally recognized signal of 'distress,' but is also considered disrespectful. The act is recognized as protected free speech under the First Amendment.

Traditionally, hanging the American flag upside down symbolizes a distress call. Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic with Yosemite, spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday and said he ...