Last Friday, October 3, a few dozen spectators, accompanied by a small gaggle of photographers and journalists, gathered in the D3 parking lot to watch the burning of an American flag. UVA Law student Kirk Wolff ’26 organized the burning as part of the Friends Against Fascist Organization (FAFO)’s Anti-Fascist Tailgate, a one-man protest against recent actions by President Trump’s administration, specifically the executive order signed by Trump that directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute those who desecrate the flag, which is protected free speech under Texas v. Johnson.[1]

In an accompanying essay titled “Why I am Burning the Flag,” Wolff stated his belief that “[t]he true desecration of our flag has come from the Oval Office.”[2] He cited several administration policies as the catalyst for his protest, including the deployment of troops to American cities, the deportation of lawful permanent residents, and the president's praise for authoritarian leaders. Wolff’s protest had two main aims: “i) [to] show that we still have agency and can disobey and ignore threats from a wannabe dictator and ii) to call attention to the existential threats to our democracy we currently face.”

Wolff’s protest garnered significant attention beyond the university. While originally advertised solely on the UVA Law School GroupMe, the event flyer quickly spread, eventually reaching the national audience of Fox News,[3] Breitbart,[4] Reddit,[5] and an indirect comment by the President himself.[6] Wolff’s protest, flying in the face of the administration’s wishes, served as yet another reminder of the University’s ongoing role in the national spotlight over the role of free expression in higher education.

[1] Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989)

[2] https://kirkwolff.com/

[3]https://www.foxnews.com/media/university-virginia-looking-flag-burning-tailgate-event-from-anti-fascist-group

[4] https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/10/03/31117329american-flag-burning-tailgate-party-planned-at-university-of-virginia/amp/

[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1ny12l8/university_of_virginia_students_holding/

[6] https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115312821068691123