Custodian Claims School Fired Him for Complaining About Co-Worker's Mistreatment of American Flag

A custodian in a South Dakota school district took a video of an improperly folded American flag and posted it on Facebook along with a message asking people call the superintendent over what was supposedly repeated mistreatment of the flag. On Monday, the janitor says he was fired.

Cesar Zakahi said on his Facebook page that he was fired from Stanley County School District in Fort Pierre for standing up for the flag and that this video was part of the issue:

Here's what Zakahi wrote on his Facebook page:

I was a custodian in a small town school gym, i posted on my fb Page a coworkers abuse of the United States flag, and was fired

He continued in a post Wednesday saying:

Hello I am Cesar zakahi i am the guy that got fired for posting the US flag being disrespected at my work, i was born and raised in South Dakota, i am a disabled vet, i in would do this again even though it cost my job to stop the disrespect of the flag,

(Image: Facebook video screenshot)

The school district's Superintendent Don Hotalling told Keloland TV that Zakahi was no longer working for the school and that he was let go during a 90-day initial probation period since his hiring.

"We're not mistreating the flag, nor have we, nor will we. We have no tolerance of that," Hotalling said in a statement, according Keloland TV, but he didn't elaborate on exactly if this was the main reason for Zakahi's firing saying it was a personal matter. Keloland TV included Hotalling saying he is a military veteran who respects the flag.

Zakahi told Keloland TV that for two months he saw the flag being left unfolded and treated improperly. After such a time, he posted the picture (this original post seems to no longer be on his Facebook page) and told people to "Call the superintendent of the Stanley County School system and complain. On Monday, it might stop."

Zakahi said Hotalling told him Monday these actions crossed the line and fired him. Hotalling though is reported as saying the Facebook post is not the reason for Zakahi's firing.

The school board is meeting Wednesday to, as Keoland TV put it, "discuss personnel and legal matters."

TheBlaze has reached out to Zakahi and will update this post if more information becomes available.