WASHINGTON (TND) — Fraternities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are receiving an outpouring of support for a patriotic act performed by some of their members.
Images and videos circulating social media this week depicted members of the school’s Pi Kappa Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi and other fraternities holding up the U.S. flag. The image was taken during a campus protest in which demonstrators attempted to raise a Palestinian flag in its place, according to freelance journalist Bryan Anderson.
Video from that altercation shows members surrounding the flagpole as masked protesters douse them with water and scream.
Members of the fraternity have received widespread admiration for the patriotic act.
A GoFundMe organized to throw the frat “a rager” has now earned over $516,000, with some donors giving in the tens of thousands at a time. Organizers said they are blown away by the generosity and have closed the fund to further donations to begin organizing a responsible use of the money.
We have been overwhelmed by the sheer force of patriotism on display here,” organizers wrote. “What started as a modest request to buy a few kegs for some great young guys has ballooned into an American cultural moment, with millions of people paying attention: blue and red, left and right, all of the above.”Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., paid tribute to the group by contributing $125 to the fund. The representative also said he was sending an “aid package” to the frat including his “memer of Congress” can koozies.
“God bless the brothers and God bless America,” the representative said. “May their Solo cups overfloweth.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told The National Desk Thursday the fraternity brothers gave him hope in America’s future.
“Those guys are great,” Sen. Schmitt said. “There’s hope for America in the contrast between people who hate this country, who believe in really racist ideology, and then you’ve got these college kids that are standing there protecting the flag. Kudos to those guys.”
Rep. Pat Falon, R-Texas., reportedly sent the fraternity a letter in which he praised their patriotism according to Fox News.
"In this environment, it isn't easy to stand up to spineless administrators, cowardly faculty, and naive students who are blinded by vitriol," Rep. Fallon wrote. “You made our country proud. Clearly, your parents raised you right."
Country singer John Rich offered to throw the group a free concert, dubbing the performance “Flagstock.”
I told them I was really proud of them and I hope that their patriotism and their courage in that moment ignites a fire across other universities,” Rich said of his conversation with the fraternity members. “It’s incredible, the spirit of Americans.”Commentator Dave Rubin also said he would offer any members of the fraternities a “paid summer internship.”
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