Image Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for the International Tennis Hall of Fame 
Retired foreign tennis star Martina Navratilova attacked a Michigan woman who called out a public library for flying the American flag at full-staff in violation of orders issued from the White House and Lansing.
On Sunday morning, Emmet County resident Izzy Lyman snapped a photo outside the Petoskey District Library where Old Glory was sitting atop the flagpole.
“Hey Petoskey Library you musta not gotten the memo: ‘In honor of Charlie Kirk, President Trump is ordering all American flags throughout the U.S. to be lowered to Half Mast,'” Lyman stated in a post on X.
Lyman referenced a Presidential Proclamation issued on Sept. 10, just hours after the assassination of the conservative Christian icon at an event in Utah.
“I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, September 14, 2025,” President Trump decreed.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a similar directive, which was in effect until an unspecified time on Sunday.
Navratilova, who was granted asylum and citizenship by the United States after fleeing Czechoslovakia decades ago, took umbrage with Lyman’s post, which had garnered significant interest.
“Do you know the difference between federal, state and private places ? If you insist on half staff flags in the whole country, we are in that case either a fascist country or a communist country. Take your pick, GOP man…” Navratilova wrote in response to Lyman.
Petoskey District Library Director Valerie Meyerson replied to an inquiry from Lyman, explaining that the flag had been lowered initially but was re-raised erroneously.
“Unfortunately, while it was to remain at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, it was raised too early in error by the staff member responsible for this duty. This was an honest mistake, and in no way was any disrespect intended. Please accept my apology and deepest regrets for this oversight,” Meyerson wrote.
While there are no civil or criminal penalties for violations of the United States Flag Code, public buildings are expected to comply with federal and state orders.
