The U.S. flag code says American flags should not be displayed upside-down except as a signal of “dire distress,” but free speech protections prevent prosecution.

such as never carrying the flag flat or horizontally, and not displaying its stars and stripes on clothing. These common practices also violate the code but carry no legal consequences.

Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, flags across the Volunteer State and the country were lowered to their half-staff position. In Tennessee, there are two reasons for the flags ...