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Struthers man now says he’s flying Nazi flag to protest zoning citations
By Sarah Lehr
STRUTHERS
A man flying a Nazi flag outside his Narcissa Street home now claims he did so, in part, to protest the city of Struthers for enforcing numerous zoning regulations.
Richard Dilullo told reporters Wednesday he displayed the flag, which features a swastika, as a Halloween decoration. He said he does not support Nazism or white supremacy.
On Thursday, Dilullo suggested he also displayed the flag to voice his discontent with Struthers city officials. Dilullo has been cited multiple times through Struthers Municipal Court for violating ordinances including those regulating garbage collection, gutters/downspouts and the general maintenance of property.
Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, director of communications for the Youngstown Jewish Federation, described Dilullo’s argument that the flag was a Halloween decoration as “specious,” which means superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
She referred to public Facebook comments posted by Dilullo and added, “He’s kind of contradicted himself as to why he’s flying the flag.”
Dilullo responded to others commenting to an online article posted by The Vindicator’s broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV with his own (edited for spelling and grammar) comments including: “Honestly, when I hung the flag my true point was an avenue to voice my displeasure over Struthers city fining me $400 for not having garbage pickup” and “Because it’s for Halloween ... it’s offensive and it gets attention. And it symbolizes the Nazi America that we’re becoming. Two birds one stone. Hopefully PETA doesn’t get offended by that.”
“It’s hard to say what his true motivations are,” Burdman said, “but, if in fact, he’s trying to use the flag as some sort of protest against the city, any type of analogy to Nazi atrocities – drawing the connection between his issues with his house and the systematic murder of 6 million Jews and millions of other people – is completely unfounded and uncalled for.”
The flag has provoked outrage among community members, many of whom view the Nazi symbol as an attempt to intimidate residents of a multiracial neighborhood.
Burdman noted that, though the swastika is an ancient religious symbol for Hindus, Buddhists and others, it has since “been completely co-opted by the Nazis as a symbol of tremendous hate.”
She agrees that Dilullo has a constitutional right to fly the flag and said the issue is appropriateness rather than legality.
“The image of the swastika is a such a visceral symbol right now,” she said. “If I was driving by, it would immediately communicate anti-Semitism. ... I think this is an opportunity for us as a community to discuss why people would still think this is OK.”
Struthers Police Capt. Brian Aldish said Wednesday that officers had attempted unsuccessfully to speak with Dilullo because of complaints from neighbors about the flag. Police did not complete a formal incident report because the flag does not constitute a crime, Aldish said.
Mayor Terry Stocker sent Safety-Service Director Ed Wildes to Dilullo’s home Thursday because of garbage strewn across the sidewalk and front lawn. City ordinances regulate the collection and buildup of trash.
As of Thursday, most of the trash had been removed, though the flag was still flying.
Dilullo said Wildes requested that he remove the flag.
Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist for the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union, said it “could be problematic” for government officials to make such a request, even if officials did not press criminal charges.
The involvement of law-enforcement officials, in particular, could be intimidating and might have a chilling effect on free speech, Daniels said.
Struthers City Prosecutor Dominic Leone said Thursday he is approaching the situation delicately and researching the legality of the flag.
Daniels said the flag is clearly protected by the U.S. Constitution as free speech.
“This one is pretty cut and dry,” Daniels said. “The First Amendment protects almost all speech, including controversial speech. It’s a pretty easy call when you talk about somebody flying a flag in their yard in their private residence.”