**WARNING: This video contains strong language and graphic content

The following video shows Michelle Manhart — and Air Force veteran — being detained Friday (but not charged) after she took an American flag from a bunch of protesters who were stomping on it on a lawn at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.

Afterwards, the flag was returned to the demonstrators, who declined to press charges against Manhart. In lieu of arrest, she was given a criminal trespassing warning, which effectively prohibits her from attending university events such as graduation and football games.

The protesting group’s message and identity remained foggy even after the confrontation, although many discerned from hints and cryptic remarks that they were using the flag as a way to speak out against racism.

More from the Valdosta Daily Times:

“I did not want anything like this, but I got a call from a student who told me that the flag was on the ground, and they were walking on it,” said Manhart. “I was just going over there to pick up the flag off the ground. I don’t know what their cause is, but I went to pick it up because it doesn’t deserve to be on the ground.”

 

Manhart said she was not on campus long enough to discern the group’s message. However, she said if the cause was racism, she agreed with the cause but opposed the method of protest.

 

“If your cause is racism then find some white people and walk on them,” said Manhart. “But to walk on the flag is walking on our symbol of freedom. You have the freedom to do what you are doing because of it. I’m not fighting against them. I’m fighting against the way they are going about it.”

 

Manhart said she hoped to ask for a letter of apology from the group and to take possession of the flag so she could dispose of it properly.

 

Clark said university officials were unable to determine if the demonstrators were VSU students but said the group had the right to protest on campus.

 

“They were exercising their right to symbolic speech. As long as they don’t disrupt the operations of the university, we let people engage in protest and debate,” said Clark.