Flying a flag upside down is considered a sign of distress and a cry for immediate help
. According to the U.S. Flag Code, flying the American flag upside down is only meant to be done "as a signal of dire distress"
. It is a move generally reserved for when the country is in unprecedented distress
. Nowadays, flying the flag upside down on a flagpole is a kind of free expression
. It is a form of peaceful protest that can be useful in making people feel like they're doing something when they feel helpless, or showing your neighbors where you align politically and that you're a safe space for certain folks
