An upside-down American flag was displayed at a Somali Independence Day event in St. Cloud, Minnesota, sparking controversy and apologies. The St. Cloud Police Department confirmed that on July 3 at 5:29 p.m., officers received a report of the flag being flown upside down at the Lake George Park Pavilion. A video obtained by Fox News Digital showed the flag in that position as approximately 500 attendees celebrated. Police corrected the flag without objection, and organizers told city staff the error was unintentional.
Community Reaction and Skepticism
Some residents expressed skepticism about the claim of an accidental display. St. Cloud City Councilman Scott Brodeen told Fox News Digital he was 'disgusted' by the incident and questioned how it went unnoticed by event organizers, local politicians, and groups like the AFL-CIO and the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), which had booths at the event. Brodeen said a police officer informed him that complaints had been received and the flag was promptly fixed.
Organizers' Response
Event organizers maintained the flag's upside-down display was unintentional. The police report noted no objections when the flag was corrected. The incident has since gone viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions from the community.