Why Does the Teamsters Union Appear to Be Flying Its Union Flag Above the U.S. One Outside the Group's D.C. HQ?

​TheBlaze's Jonathon M. Seidl contributed to this report.

A photo depicting what appears to be the Teamsters Union flag improperly flying above the American flag outside the union's D.C. headquarters on Tuesday was sent to TheBlaze, and the story of how a Marine veteran who tried to bring it to the group's attention was treated is sure to raise eyebrows.

The photo was taken by the Marine at approximately 2:10 pm ET and sent to TheBlaze by his brother. Both have requested anonymity for fear of retaliation by the union.

This is the picture:

Photo credit: TheBlaze

You can just make out the image of the horses and the star-like figure present in the union's logo:

An image from the Teamsters website showing the group's logo. (Photo source: Teamsters.org)

A quick view of Google Maps and the street view feature shows the building depicted in the photo above is, in fact, the group's listed headquarters. The Google image shows the same flag poles:

The union's headquarters, located at 25 Louisiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC, as seen in Google. (Photo source: Google Maps)

The decision to fly the union flag above the U.S. one seems a clear violation the United States Flag Code. Section "c" of the code states:

(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

TheBlaze could not locate any exceptions made for when the U.S. flag has been ordered at half-staff, which has been the case since the Sandy Hooke school massacre.

But there's more to the story. The veteran's brother tells TheBlaze that the Marine did try to inform the union of the apparent flag code violation, but when he entered the Teamsters headquarters to alert them of the matter he was informed by a security guard that he had to leave the premises.

The Teamsters Union headquarters also happens to be approximately a block away from the U.S. Capitol.

TheBlaze contacted the group's headquarters for comment and has not yet received a response.

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