A Fort Mill HOA asked this SC couple to remove their ‘Trump 2020’ flag. They refused.
A Fort Mill couple is pushing back because they say their homeowners association told them to remove a “Trump 2020” flag displayed outside their home.
The couple, who lives in Baxter Village, have so far, been fined $150 for displaying “a political sign,” which according to the neighborhood’s HOA rules, can only be displayed 30 days before or after an election.
Sarah Martin and her husband, Josh Yost, put the flag up in March and aren’t planning to take it down any time soon.
“We are within our American right to fly this flag off the front of our house,” Martin said. “This didn’t become an issue until people in the neighborhood felt that the flag is offensive and is divisive. They feel like we’re causing strife in the neighborhood by having a flag that supports the president hanging from our home.”
Martin said the neighborhood also is citing the couple for violating a rule requiring that all flags displayed from a home have prior approval by the HOA.
“Baxter is a 20-year-old community and this rule has never ever been enforced,” she said. “People have pretty much flown freely what they’ve wanted to fly on their home up until this point.”
A representative for Baxter Village’s HOA had not responded to The Herald’s request for comment by midday Thursday.
Martin and Yost have four flags flying from their porch. An American flag. A “Proud American Christian” flag. A blue and red lives matter flag. And a “Trump 2020” flag.
It’s the last one that’s causing them trouble. But Martin said their home isn’t the only one in the neighborhood with politics-related flags.
“We’ve got BLM flag. We’ve got LGBTQ support flags all over the neighborhood,” Martin said. “We’ve got other Trump flags...The list goes on and on and on. And we’re not raising a stink because we don’t agree with somebody else’s flag.”
Martin said she spoke with the homeowner about their “Black Lives Matter” flag. Martin said that family has so far not been fined, but that flag has not been up as long as Martin’s.
“I do know that the other Trump flag in the neighborhood, they have received a letter, basically a warning saying, ‘Hey, remove your flag or you’re going to get a fine. And that’s the process they follow.”
According to a recent notice, obtained by The Herald, Martin and Yost’s violation is related to political signs. The couple has been charged two $75 fines since March, Martin said.
“Political flag needs to be removed when not in election season,” the letter said. “Fines will continue to accrue until flag is removed.”
But Martin said no amount of fines will force the couple to take the flag down. She said she feels the HOA is trying to “squander” her family’s First Amendment rights.
“We’re standing firm,” she said. “We’re not taking the flag down and they can pretty much fine us all they want.”
The couple has so far not paid the fines and started a GoFundMe page, which has already accrued more than $750 in donations. The couple hopes the HOA will drop the fines and the couple can donate the funds to first responders in the Fort Mill area, Martin said.
“It’s not about the money,” Martin said. “It’s the principle. And so many people have said to us, ‘We support you. Thank you for standing up.’”
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 12:41 PM with the headline "A Fort Mill HOA asked this SC couple to remove their ‘Trump 2020’ flag. They refused.."
