The College Fix

‘Security contractor involved is no longer working with St. Thomas’

The University of St. Thomas on Wednesday apologized for a contractor hanging the American flag upside down on its downtown Minneapolis campus.

“Early on the morning of March 26, the American flag was mistakenly hung incorrectly outside the University of St. Thomas’ downtown Minneapolis campus by a security contractor,” an official university statement read.

“A St. Thomas Public Safety officer later noticed and immediately corrected the issue and notified the third-party provider. The university sincerely apologizes for this mistake. The security contractor involved is no longer working with St. Thomas.”

According to NPR, the “upside-down American flag, originally an apolitical symbol used by sailors to signal that their ship was in trouble, has since been adopted by both the political left and right in protest. Across the political spectrum, it’s been used to express dissent on a range of issues, including gun violence, the Flint water crisis and the overturning of the Roe v. Wade ruling that protected the right to an abortion.”

As pictures of the upside-down flag went viral on social media this week, some praised the move while others decried it.

BREAKING: The U.S. flag is being flown upside down at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

Even Private Catholic schools are turning into hotbeds for liberal propaganda.

@CrimeWatchMpls pic.twitter.com/vEyehypTG6

— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) March 26, 2025

“That’s my university. Let’s go,” one commenter on Facebook said. “A W for University of St Thomas. Well done,” said another.

“I’m surprised and impressed. When communities are in distress they may fly the flag upside down in protected free speech,” one observer chimed in.

Others were not so pleased.

“The U.S. flag is being flown upside down at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Even Private Catholic schools are turning into hotbeds for liberal propaganda,” said a commenter on X.

MORE: American flag causes ‘anxiety’ for Marquette professor

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: The American flag flown upside down at the University of St. Thomas on March 25 / Facebook screenshot from the Twin Cities Crime Watch & Information Facebook page

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