The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Postville is protesting the use of the American flag, featured as a backdrop on a poster asking for support for convicted felon Sholom Rubashkin. The former executive at Agriprocessors in Postville was convicted last month of 86 federal bank fraud charges.
Prosecutors decided to drop an upcoming trial on immigration charges against Rubashkin, in order to save the expense of another costly trial. As it stands, Rubashkin faces the possibility of over 1,000 years in prison on the fraud charges. He remains in jail until his sentencing as the judge sited Rubashkin is a possible flight risk.
Some supporters of Rubashkin have put up posters around the city of Postville. It features a picture of Rubashkin in front of an American flag background. Local veterans claim the poster is a desecration of the flag and is against the state code regarding defacing the flag. They contend the flag is being used to shield a convicted criminal. Members of the Jeffrey E. Bohr VFW post in Postville are demanding the signs be removed and destroyed, and that an apology be made to the city and veterans.
Contributed by Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein