Former mayor flying Old Glory as a symbol of national distress

Former mayor Karen Majewski is flying an upside down American flag as a protest symbol of President Trump’s policies. Photo by Matt Feazell

By Alan Madlane
Former mayor Karen Majewski has caused a bit of a local stir by flying an American flag upside-down on the second-floor balcony of her home.
The action has a long history. According to the U.S. Flag Code, it is generally perceived as being “disrespectful,” however it is also “a sign of danger or distress,” and, when righted again, demonstrates “safety.”
And, while you could argue the level of metaphor that could reasonably go to, the fact is that it has been done, by citizens of all political persuasions, and across the spectrum, for a very long time.
Those of us old enough can certainly remember seeing it plenty during the Vietnam War years of the 1960s and 70s, even as jacket patches, and including, prominently, on the cover of the Canned Heat album “Future Blues.”
The band Rage Against the Machine covered their amps in the inverted Old Glory while playing Saturday Night Live in 1996.
On the other side, in 2020-21 protesters of the discredited “Stop the Steal” movement flew them, and even Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito flew it upside-down at his home.
Just this past February, a huge upside-down U.S. flag was flown in Yosemite by fired park employees, before being removed.
We caught up with former mayor Majewski to delve a little deeper into her particular reasons for joining the historical parade.

The Review: Obviously, people have noticed that you are displaying an upside-down American flag on your front balcony. This is traditionally a sign of distress. Explain why you are doing this.

Karen Majewski: I am outraged at the Trump administration’s rapid, deliberate, and systematic dismantling of our Constitutional guarantees, of the flaunting of the principle of separation of powers, of the sabotage of our economic well-being, of the hostility toward our educational infrastructure, of the undermining of our place as a worldwide symbol of democracy, of the betrayal of our allies, and much more.
I believe we are in a Constitutional crisis, with a traitor in the White House and a cadre of unqualified lackeys doing his bidding with the express purpose of remaking America into a Christo-fascist, misogynist, and racist dictatorship. Is that clear enough?
So, I am flying the American flag upside down, which is a symbol of our nation under distress.

The Review: Is this protest also a comment on Hamtramck’s government?

Majewski: No, it’s strictly a reaction to the actions of the Trump regime. The only tangential connection to Hamtramck city government is that city leadership supports the actions of the treasonous felon in the White House.

The Review: How long do you plan to go with the flag protest, or is it kind of open-ended, depending on circumstances?

Majewski: Although I generally distrust performative flag waving, I look forward to the day when I can fly the flag right-side up. That is unlikely, as long as we are staring fascism in the face.

The Review: What sort of reaction(s) have you inspired, and where have these come from? Do you fear any sort of a violent or vandalistic backlash, or even, potentially, being targeted by an out-of-control federal government?

Majewski: There have been a few comments on social media, once I posted the photo. Only two of those were negative. Otherwise, I haven’t heard any reactions.
And no, I’m not afraid of anyone — not my neighbors, not the MAGA brown shirts, and not Trump’s storm troopers. Pope John Paul II said, “Be not afraid.”
Others have faced — and are now facing — real threats from this administration. It’s my duty, as an American and as a human being, to be open about my opposition, and to demonstrate my support for those who are under threat.

The Review: What would you say to people who might accuse you of “being un-American” or “radical” or any of the other usual platitudes?

Majewski: There is nothing more American than standing up for our Constitution, for the ideals — as compromised as they’ve been throughout our history — on which this country was envisioned.
I believe in that promise, and in our obligation to strive for that “more perfect union.” I would argue that it’s the Trump administration that has betrayed the nation and violated a sacred trust—blatantly, cruelly, and with bad intent.

The Review: Do you hope to inspire others to follow suit? Has anyone approached you about joining into a larger movement, and would you consider that?

Majewski: Everyone who is opposed to the actions of this government has to find their own path of resistance, and others are certainly already doing much more than I am with my small symbolic gesture.
People all over the country are protesting, organizing actions, making their voices heard, and that imperative is only growing.
I’m no stranger to protest, or to marching in the streets. I came of age in the ‘60s and ‘70s, don’t forget. But because I have something of a public persona, I think it’s especially important that I use my visibility and voice to take public stands, and flying the distress flag is only one way of doing that.

The Review: Does any of this make you want to jump back into politics at any level, to fight the “power” from within, so to speak?

Majewski: I follow local politics closely, and obviously have strong opinions about the city administration (not all of them bad), but I have absolutely no desire to run for any public office again.
I had my time to serve, and it’s now time for younger people to use their passion and creativity to make this a better community, better nation, and better world.
I’m still ready to fight the good fight, but you couldn’t pay me enough to run another city council meeting.

The Review: Anything else you’d like to add?

Majewski: We have never been a perfect nation. We still have demons to fight and hypocrisies to work through and atone for.
At the risk of being corny, the words of Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” emblazoned on the Statue of Liberty, still bring me to tears: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore; send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
That is the America I’m striving for.
Posted June 12, 2025