The spirit of the Gadsden flag still resonates today with a recoiling snake hissing at an outside threat. Its caption—Don’t Tread On Me—embodies the reptile’s attitude. An intention to be left alone. To live free of disruption. To defend its peace. In a twist of modern politics, I’ve realized that protestors could have used the symbol to speak against actions of ICE this past year. And ironically, the banner would have shown the Left and Right to have something in common. Liberty would have appeared to inspire both gun right advocates and anti-ICE protestors alike. They have different concerns, but the same attitude. Somehow, the revolutionary spirit of the 18th century found its way to the 21st, regardless of our political tribe.
I referenced the flag’s words in my piece about Operation Metro Surge in January. I have wrestled with what I wrote in the sub-zero degrees of that time. While I don’t take back my objections to the things ICE did, I know that ICE has always had reasonable objectives that deserve respect. And relative to world history, their intrusions were light. If we doubt this, we should remember Iran killing thousands of protestors, and suffocating dictatorships like that of North Korea. So really, ICE was the Diet Coke of oppression. But still, this doesn’t mean that soda is good for us. The presence of ICE was heavy in Minneapolis, and the words “Don’t Tread on Me” struck a chord in me then. It was a reminder of a principle that Americans have clung to for centuries—objecting to an outside force in our lives.
The protestors carrying the Gadsden flag 250 years ago felt a heavier oppression as well. The snake represented a unity of colonists objecting to the infringements of a higher government. They opposed British soldiers marching daily through Boston while residents were forced to shelter the same troops. Imagine if Minneapolis were obliged to shelter ICE agents; it wouldn’t have gone over well.* But for Boston, bayonets stood erect at markets and harbors to execute laws the people didn’t consent to. In effect, England created a police state for citizens an ocean away. Fear and anger filled the streets even more then, and history remembers the violence thereafter.
Comparisons of Boston 1776 to Minneapolis 2026 are shakier still. Minnesota has representation in Washington, so we can’t claim the turmoil of “No taxation without representation.” Also, the Trump administration appeared to concede to political pressure after the death of Alex Pretti. ICE left shortly after – a democratic response Bostonians didn’t enjoy in 1776. But still, we shouldn’t give a pass to ICE and its leaders. The federal government treaded on its populations this past year. From a Blackhawk helicopter hovering a Chicago apartment building, to Californians captured in a retail parking lot, to Minneapolis minorities obliged to carry ID to avoid detention. So it would have been a pleasure to see the Gadsden flag lead the protests against these acts—a message unwavering through two and a half centuries.
But modern politics have made the snake representative of only one political party. When we see the flag today, we don’t think of Boston 1776. Instead, we think of conservative causes like gun rights and protests against Covid lockdowns. This isn’t to criticize the views; indeed, it’s logical to use this flag to show their ideals. The conviction of personal liberty drives people to those views—to defend their homes, and to live as they choose. That is the spirit of the flag, but it’s unfortunate to me that the snake is now so partisan. It is no longer an American symbol; its image only associates with one group. We don’t think of a shared history now, but only the politics that enrage us.
I imagine now what it would be like to hang the flag on my porch. Since I revere its message, it would be fitting to display it. But living in a progressive city, it wouldn’t go well. The snake would be out of place with the “In This House We Believe” signs scattered through the neighborhood. Residents would only recognize the snake from NRA meetings and Stop the Steal rallies, and they would understandably make certain judgments. They wouldn’t see me as supporting neighbors against ICE. Instead, they would see me as an outgoing conservative waving the middle finger to a liberal community. Sadly, the Gadsden flag can’t represent my opinions today. It is now a symbol for the Right, and not for America.
My reverence for the flag also comes from gratitude for a life I never want to take for granted. My family has never known oppression, and a lot happened to make it so. Generations struggled for it, from founding fathers to my grandfather fighting the Battle of the Bulge. As John Adams wrote of his toils, “Oh posterity. You will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope you make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.” Whatever exists in the world today for liberty was forged through such actions. The autonomy we should cherish shows proudly in the defensive posture of that snake.
This reminds me that for all the issues American cities faced this past year, ICE was still a diet soda. They crossed the line in multiple ways, but they’re not in the realm of conversations about dictatorships. Just think of atrocities from the 20th century—gulags in Russia, mass murders in China, and communism in Cuba. Even in America, liberties haven’t always applied to everyone. So like any police force with worthy goals, we can appreciate the enforcement of immigration laws while objecting when going too far. These thoughts aren’t exclusive, and even though the protestors wouldn’t have waved this flag, the snake represents their passions. In Minneapolis, it could have become a symbol for more than one party, connecting the issues of today to the challenges of the past.
But while the flag never made it our streets, its spirit took a different form. Walking through Minneapolis today, it’s stunning how many homes still show protest signs. From graffiti on bed sheets to handsome printouts, all classes show their objections to ICE. Like the stance of the snake, the signs express a defiance. And a new logo emerged from the chaos: A Minnesota loon fused with the Rebel Alliance symbol from Star Wars. Minnesotans display it now with tattoos and colorful signs. It shares the vibe of Boston in 1776, and it’s the same spirit that drives conservatives to defend the right to protect their homes. So whether it’s ICE patrolling neighborhoods or laws restricting guns, the same message comes from all Americans: Leave us alone.
I would hope then for Americans to celebrate 250 years with a recognition of camaraderie. There is still an urge for freedom in our bones, even as we hate each other over politics. Whether it speaks to us through a snake on a flag or a protest sign, liberty is still something shared between us. Its spirit made its way through the pages of history, and it whispers to us now in different ways. And it will scream within us as future threats come. They always will, and when each of us is treaded on in our own ways, we’ll need a recoiling snake to speak against the coming tides.
*Let us now appreciate the Third Amendment to the Constitution. There has never been a Supreme Court decision on it, and the U.S. has always had resources to shelter its troops. But the guarantee that soldiers cannot be quartered in our homes is a blessing for all Americans. [Back]