It took Ariann Anderson and Jess Meadows-Anderson a few moments at the window to realize that the burning stick being waved up and down their street was in fact the rainbow flag from their front porch.
Now an Omaha, Nebraska man is being charged with second degree arson and resisting arrest for the crime.
Cameron Mayfield, 23 (pictured below), had reportedly just lost his job and as a result was drinking heavily when he committed the act. According to his father, it was a simple coincidence that the flag he chose to burn happened to be a rainbow.
The victims naturally see things a bit differently.
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“It’s just a reminder that hate is still out there,” said Jess.
Ariann told local reporters, “It goes beyond being vandalism or theft — that’s a direct attack.”
And based on their experience, it’s nearly impossible to buy the father’s story.
It was just after midnight when Ariann and Jess were woken up by some commotion; they initially thought they were being burglarized. Jess ran to check on their two girls, and Ariann made it to a window just in time to see Mayfield’s van drive off.
Already shaken, the couple heard more noise shortly thereafter, and when they looked out the window, saw Mayfield running down the street, the flag’s flames aglow in the night.
The attack hit especially close to home seeing that Mayfield lives about ten houses down from the family.
They replaced the flag the next day with a new one, and remain more concerned with getting their marriage recognized in their home state (the two married in Iowa in 2011) than they are with this drunken display of discrimination.
“You almost feel bad for a minute,” said Ariann. “He’s a young man and he made a hate-filled, drunken mistake that will have a lasting effect on his life and his family.”
Giancarlo85
I don’t know the full story. I don’t have all the details, but I am assuming that it was indeed motivated by a combination of hatred and drunkedness. He was rightfully charged for the crime he committed.
SpunkyBunks
I hope they don’t forgive him for being a “dumb young guy”. He obviously thought about the act while sober, it just took a few drinks to make him lose his inhibitions and act out on his stupid impulsive thoughts.
Kids are a direct reflection of their parents, even grown up kids.
Charli Girl
Totally agree with both of you! (Spunky bunks and GianCarlo85)
polarisfashion
Stuff like this is why I don’t have an HRC bumper sticker on my car. I don’t want to deal with someone smashing out a window in my car. I live in mostly gay friendly Columbus, Ohio but all it takes is one idiot who will probably never get caught and then my insurance goes up! Its also the reason I didn’t put an Obama sticker on my car as well.
lcandela123
Did papa apologize for his idiot son, and offer to replace the flag? I bet not.
Giancarlo85
@polarisfashion: I have ad ifferent reason for no stickers on my car. Well the reason I won’t put a sticker on my car is I don’t want to peel off the paint. lol.
wysevice27
@polarisfashion: Society is so polarized today, as soon as you put up a bumper sticker you take neutral people and force them into instant friends and instant enemies over a stupid piece of vinyl. Politics and religion are personal matters better kept private in mixed company. There’s no need to alienate potential clients, customers, friends, neighbors, whoever might see your bumper stickers.
And besides, it’s insane hubris to think that someone’s going to change his vote just because of a sticker on your car. It’s like thinking you need a Twitter account, because you’re so fascinating that everyone needs a play-by-play of your life.
Giancarlo85
@wysevice27: Goodness me. The reason why this country is so screwed up is because people don’t raise their voices and protest against the corporatism that occurs because of conservative and libertarian idiots who control the Congress.
People need to speak up and raise their voices against this tyranny.
I would put bumper stickers on my car all over, but again don’t want to peel of the paint. However, I am one who voices my views when I get a chance. If someone feels alienated, fuck them. They need to grow some skin and learn how to deal with differing opinions.
wysevice27
@Giancarlo85: You sound angry and high-strung. No one likes that. Chillax, dude, life’s too short.
I think you should start Giancarlo Inc., sell liberal bumper stickers, and donate all the profits to charities you believe in. Work the system, man. Make it your bitch!
Giancarlo85
@wysevice27: You sound like a libertarian. You need to get back to reality. Here is a cup of reality… drink it if you want. The only one that is high strung here is you. If you can’t handle some criticism, grow some skin.
I wouldn’t use bumper stickers. Don’t want to peel of the paint. So doesn’t sound like a business I’d want to engage in.
Lvng1Tor
@wysevice27: “There’s no need to alienate potential clients, customers, friends, neighbors, whoever might see your bumper stickers.” Sounds awfully close to people who think that when I mention my partner of 13 years that I’m shoving my homosexuality in their face. It also sounds as if you may think that if they had not had a flag outside of their home they wouldn’t have made themselves victims of a bigot.
If someone is alienated by my bumper stickers…yes I have them, they are on the back window of my big F’n butch truck so I needed a few rainbows to queer it up..those people are not who I want to associate with.
Not to mention the whole “hubris” for what? OMG…yes.having an opinion or not being ashamed. Not that you need to have a bumper sticker but the thought that anyone who does is an egomaniac….really queen!?? And yes…I am rolling my eyes at you!
I guess you have this queerty account instead of a twitter cause you are just that interesting?
kouros
Guys, relax! Flag burning is not a crime in the United States. It might be prosecuted as disorderly conduct, arson or theft if conducted against someone’s property. As a gay man, this act is very low on my outrage meter.
msfrost
Kuouros, it’s a hate crime.
wysevice27
@msfrost:
It’s arson and/or vandalism, depending on the extent of the damage. There are no hate-crime laws in Nebraska which prevent the burning of a rainbow flag. It’s no different than if they had burned a neighbor’s Confederate flag.