‘Flagstock’ party planned with $500,000 raised for UNC students who defended US flag
More than $500,000 in donations will go to a Labor Day party dubbed “Flagstock 2024,” a party celebrating UNC students who protected the American flag during recent campus protests.
The party set for Sept. 2 is invite-only and will feature a performance by John Rich of the country duo Big & Rich.
“These great young guys defended our flag and created a unifying national cultural moment,” organizer John Noonan wrote in a Monday news release. “Everyone in America wanted to thank these fine young patriots. On Labor Day, we will get to do just that.”
The party stems from a GoFundMe page set up in early May to recognize fraternity brothers for their role in the campus protest.
UNC protest brought fight over flag
Demonstrators set up tents on the Chapel Hill campus in late April, forming a “Gaza Solidarity Camp” that drew hundreds of people and demanded that UNC disclose investments related to Israel and divest from them.
Police broke up the camp and charged 36 people, including 13 students. Later that day, a physical clash broke out when protesters returned to the site on the campus main quad. Protesters removed the large American flag there and replaced it with a Palestinian flag, leading to an hour-long struggle.
During that time, several students were photographed holding the American flag off the ground, standing in a ring. Many of them were members of UNC’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.
‘Rager’ for ‘Brohemian’ frat brothers
Soon after, the GoFundMe page appeared praising Pi Kappa Phi’s flag defense, calling protesters “an unwashed Marxist horde” and raising money to pay for a “rager” party in honor of the “triumphant Brohemian” frat brothers.
“Commie losers across the country have invaded college campuses to make dumb demands of weak university administrators,” the post read. “But amidst the chaos, the screaming, the anti-semitism, the hatred of faith and flag, stood a platoon of American heroes.
“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.”
The post from Noonan originally sought only $15,000, but it quickly went viral as donations poured in from around the country, topping $500,000.
Three top donors — identified as John Clark, Adam Sinn and William Ackman — gave $10,000 or more. Others contributing included former UNC basketball coach Matt Doherty, who expressed his appreciation for the students on X, and two donors who gave $1,776 each.
Pints for Patriots group
“We are overwhelmed by you glorious, Patriotic Americans who value good beer and great times,” the organizer said in an update on GoFundMe. “We are in contact with multiple leaders from fraternities whose members helped defend the flag, including Alpha Epsilon Pi and others, in addition to Pi Kappa Phi.”
Noonan’s release Monday said he had established a group called Pints for Patriots to plan the event, connect with UNC officials and handle security and logistics.
“Pints for Patriots has a board of directors in place and a small team of volunteers to ensure every cent of donor dollars goes to throwing these fine young Americans the epic rager they earned,” he wrote.
The party will be free.
