South Carolina Sheriff Refuses To Lower Flag For Nelson Mandela

"Nelson Mandela did great things for his country and was a brave man but he was not an AMERICAN!!!," Sheriff Rick Clark wrote on Facebook.

After the announcement of former South African President Nelson Mandela's death Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered flags be flown at half-mast until Dec. 9.

Friday afternoon, Sheriff Rick Clark of Pickens County, S.C., said on Facebook he would refuse to lower his flag for Mandela, who "did great things for his country and was a brave man but he was not an AMERICAN!!!"

UPDATE: Local reporter Mike Ellis reached Clark on his cell phone. Ellis tweeted that Clark stood by his decision and "would not've lowered flag for pope's death, feels it is an honor for Americans."

SC Sheriff Rick Clark told me he stands by refusal to lower flag for Nelson Mandela bc American flag should honor American sacrifice 1 of 3

Mike Ellis

@MikeEllis_AIM

SC Sheriff Rick Clark told me he stands by refusal to lower flag for Nelson Mandela bc American flag should honor American sacrifice 1 of 3

/ Via

SC Sheriff Rick Clark said he would not've lowered flag for pope's death, feels it is an honor for Americans. http://t.co/XZsokLcLr7 2 of 3

Mike Ellis

@MikeEllis_AIM

SC Sheriff Rick Clark said he would not've lowered flag for pope's death, feels it is an honor for Americans. http://t.co/XZsokLcLr7 2 of 3

/ Via

Pickens County's admin office says county is honoring Nelson Mandela with flag lowering. "We generally don't go against president" 3 of 3

Mike Ellis

@MikeEllis_AIM

Pickens County's admin office says county is honoring Nelson Mandela with flag lowering. "We generally don't go against president" 3 of 3

/ Via
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