Country singer John Rich will croon for free for the University of North Carolina frat brothers who protected the American flag from anti-Israel demonstrators at a protest on campus.
The move came after photos circulated online of the moment the UNC-Chapel Hill chapter of Pi Kappa Phi took a stand.
Amidst a tense protest against Israel, the young men were seen ensuring the American flag was kept off the ground and shielded from desecration, while facing the verbal onslaught of angry protesters and dodging objects hurled their way.
The conservative country star was so impressed by the patriotic actions of the college students, he offered up a free show.
For the boys who protected the American flag at UNC, I'd like to offer a free concert for their celebration of freedom party👍(anybody know how to find these young men?)Maybe we could talk @dbongino into doing a live broadcast from their frat house? Cmon Dan, live a little🤣…
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) May 1, 2024
“For the boys who protected the American flag at UNC, I’d like to offer a free concert for their celebration of freedom party (anybody know how to find these young men?) Maybe we could talk …” He posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
Not long after, Rich excitedly updated that plans for the event were already underway.
“I’ve made contact with the Patriots at UNC!” he tweeted late that evening. “Working on a date to have a massive event to celebrate our flag and those who love her.”
“I’ll keep ya’ll posted!” He added. “Let’s call it #Flagstock Can you make Flagstock trend? LESSGO!”
A GoFundMe was established to fund a “rager” for the proud American fraternity members has gone viral and quickly amassed over $515,000 by early Friday morning.
The campaign didn’t mince words about what they think of the “Commie losers” invading campuses across the nation and making ridiculous demands “weak University Administrators.”
This is a photo of guys from the Pi Kappa Phi frat at UNC Chapel Hill protecting the American Flag that was being taken down by protestors.
Here is a link to a GoFundMe to throw these boys a rager. https://t.co/uVFrWm8uPc pic.twitter.com/mzi77To74z
— Zachary Bell (@zacharyebell) May 1, 2024
“But amidst the chaos, the screaming, the anti-semitism, the hatred of faith and flag, stood a platoon of American heroes,” the GoFundMe said about the Pi Kappa Phi brothers.
“Armored in Vineyard Vines and Patagonia, fueled by Zyn and White Claws, these triumphant Brohemians protected Old Glory from the unwashed Marxist horde — laughing at their shrieks and wails and shielding the Stars & Stripes from Soviet missiles.”
One such frat bro, Guillermo Estrada, shared his firsthand account of what happened on the campus and why his fraternity acted.
Upset at the sight of a Palestinian flag flown on campus, he and his fraternity brothers quickly rallied to help police officers in restoring the American flag to its rightful place.
“My fraternity brother and others ran over to hold [the flag] up, in order for it not to touch the ground,” Estrada tweeted.
“People began throwing water bottles at us, rocks, sticks, calling us profane names. We stood for an hour defending the flag so many fight to protect,” he added.
(Thread) Today was a sad yet empowering day at Chapel Hill. When I walked to class, I saw the Palestinian flag raised on our quad flag pole, and was immediately upset at the act that these “protestors” had made. I cannot say I am fully educated on the Israel/Palestine conflict pic.twitter.com/tZrZEOSu8a
— Guillermo Estrada (@estradguillermo) April 30, 2024
Another Pi Kappa Phi member spoke to Fox News Digital about defending the flag, which he said protestors would have to pry form his “dead body” to take from them.
“I don’t understand how people can act like this,” junior Dan Strompel remarked.
He was one of the boys who held the flag for more than an hour it took for police to break up the protest and raise it back up the flagpole.
NEW: UNC Chapel Hill frat boy says he would have protected the American flag with his "dead body" from protesters.
One of the students who protected the flag at UNC, Dan Stompel, gave an interview with Fox News as their GoFundMe has surpassed $400,000.
Stompel said holding the… pic.twitter.com/AVHlTcMrX6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 2, 2024
“I was like, ‘I’d die for this flag.’ And everybody was like, ‘Yeah.’ If they got any closer that we’re going to start throwing hands. We’re not going anywhere, I don’t care. They’re going to have to tear me off this flag over my dead body,” he commented.
Amid growing tensions on campuses nationwide, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is calling for unity against anti-Israel sentiments.
Kraft, set to promote his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism through upcoming newspaper ads, told Sean Hannity about his concerns surrounding the overwhelming anti-Israel sentiment at colleges across the United States.
Saving Old Glory 🇺🇸
Frat boys at UNC Chapel Hill surround American flag in protection as pro Palestine mob runs wild
A GoFundMe page for the fraternity house that defended the American flag during pro-Palestinian protests has raised over $160,000 in one day. pic.twitter.com/GZqiZZQIRa
— TheRealCherokeeOwl (@RealCherokeeOwl) May 2, 2024
“I think our universities were one of our competitive advantages as a country, and I think what’s going on now throughout America is scaring a lot of people,” Kraft told the Fox News host on Wednesday night.
“They want to know we’re going to win this battle. And I just ask, ‘Are you good listeners who care about this country to speak up now?’” The Columbia University alum criticized.
“Universities used to be where you had critical debate and different points of view,” he added. “We didn’t teach hate and intimidation.”