Barry Binkley, Jr., Was Robbed And Vandalized Because Of The Flag He ‘Chose To Fly’: Justified?

Barry Binkley, Jr., believes that he has been victimized by people, who want to take away his freedom of speech and to “think what he wants.”

The Glasgow, Delaware, resident had chosen to fly a Confederate Flag on his property to feel better connected to his “friends and family in the South,” Delaware Online reports.

When the flag attracted attention from the outside world, however, it was met with theft and vandalism.

Police have yet to identify the perpetrator(s) involved in the incident, but whoever targeted Barry Binkley, Jr., took the flag, busted his truck window, and spray-painted a derogatory message on his boat: “F*** u [you] racist.”

Binkley denies that he is a racist and said that he had the flag up for close to 15 years without incident. Now he believes his aggressor(s) have one thought in mind.

“They are taking away my freedom to think what I want,” he told the news site.

In a separate report from NBC Philadelphia, Binkley dismissed any idea that this would deter him from flying another flag.

“Will there be another one flying? D*** sure there will be,” he answered.

That being said, he also noted that he would be willing to listen to anyone offended by the display.

“It’s my freedom to hang what flag I want to fly. You can hang yours in your yard. I can hang mine in mine.”

The incident reportedly occurred in the late night or early morning hours between July 7 and 8. Police have yet to apprehend anyone or announce suspects. They did confirm that this did not constitute a “hate crime,” though it involved race, but that whoever is responsible could face charges of theft and criminal mischief.

Binkley said he also owns a Confederate banner, which was in his garage and left undisturbed after the incident.

In other Confederate Flag news, the Inquisitr previously reported on the South Carolina legislature’s efforts to remove the flag from state grounds.

Earlier today, the House of Representatives officially voted to remove the Confederate flag from state house grounds. This vote was the final hurdle in what has been a weeks-long process for a state that was the first to secede from the Union during the very beginning of the Civil War. South Carolina actually put the Confederate back up, over 50 years ago, in order to protest the growing civil rights movement.

For continuing to fly the flag — and facing the pushback — do you think people like Barry Binkley, Jr., are instigators or victims? Sound off in the comments section.

[Image of Barry Binkley, Jr., via Delaware Online, linked above]