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The city of Greenville, North Carolina, is cracking down on a massive American flag at a local Camping World store. The flag measures 40 feet tall and 80 feet long, flying on a 130-foot pole. City rules say flags can’t be bigger than 216 square feet or poles taller than 70 feet. Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis refuses to take it down, calling the flag his “love letter” to America.
Lemonis came to the U.S. as an orphan from Lebanon. He says America gave him a chance to succeed. He’s put up 220 oversized flags nationwide and vows to fight legal battles. Greenville started fining Camping World $250 per day in January. Lemonis calls the fines unfair and says he’ll keep paying them.
Some locals support the flag. One resident asked, “If it’s not harming anything, why remove it?” Others see it as a symbol of free speech. But city officials say it’s about following rules, not patriotism. The Planning Commission voted 4-4 to reject changing the rules, with the vice chair calling Camping World a “bad actor” for ignoring permits.
The company faces lawsuits in multiple states over similar flag disputes. Lemonis claims cities are harassing businesses with pointless regulations. He argues local governments should focus on real issues like crime and schools. Greenville spent taxpayer money fighting the flag instead of hiring police or fixing roads.
Critics accuse Lemonis of staging a publicity stunt. One local said Camping World painted the city as “villains” for enforcing laws. The mayor’s office insists they support patriotism but want compliance. Meanwhile, Lemonis keeps flying the flag while racking up fines.
East Carolina University students spoke against changing the rules at a city meeting. They argued bending laws for one business sets a bad example. Lemonis fired back, saying he won’t remove the flag even if jailed. He’s hired lawyers to fight the city’s legal threats.
This isn’t Camping World’s first flag fight. They’ve battled cities in Tennessee, California, and Wisconsin. Lemonis says he’ll keep expanding his “patriotic mission” until he’s flown one million square feet of flags nationwide. Supporters cheer his defiance as standing up for American values.
The showdown continues as Greenville’s city council prepares to vote March 13. Lemonis remains unyielding, telling critics, “I have my freedom.” For many conservatives, this fight isn’t just about a flag—it’s about resisting government overreach and celebrating what makes America great.
