On Wednesday, protestors at the Republican National Convention demonstrated by setting the American flag on fire. But the demonstration backfired - literally - when a protestor caught fire himself, according to police.
Police Chief Calvin Williams said a protester attempted to set the flag afire — a legal activity as long as it is not used to incite a crowd — and the flames jumped to the protester’s pant legs and then spread to others. As officers attempted to extinguish the flames, the scrum became more aggressive, and two officers were assaulted, Williams said.
Protestor lit flag on fire, then lit himself on fire, catching others on fire. Flames extinguished by firefighters. No serious injuries.
— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) July 20, 2016
“You’re on fire! You’re on fire, stupid!” a Cleveland officer shouted holding a fire extinguisher according to the Los Angeles Times.
The group, the Revolutionary Communist Party, organized the flag burning spectacle as a “political statement about the crimes of the American empire. There’s nothing great about America.”
Some people in the crowd yelled "Blue Lives Murder!" at the surrounding police officers.
Seventeen people were arrested, two people were charged with felony assault on a police officer. No one was cited for stupidity.
