Self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff” in the nation Joe Arpaio of Arizona has said that 38 inmates will be fed only bread and water for a week for allegedly defacing American flags.
As part of an initiative the Maricopa County sheriff began in November, each jail cell has a sticker of an American flag, and inmates were threatened with the bread and water diet if the sticker was defaced in any way.
“These inmates have destroyed the American flag that was placed in their cells,” CNN reports Arpaio as saying. “Tearing them, writing on them, stepping on them, throwing them in the toilet, trash or wherever they feel. It’s a disgrace … this is government property that they are destroying, and we will take action against those who act this way.”
In addition to the flags, Arpaio’s nationalist push includes the daily playing of “God Bless America” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” over the jails’ PA systems.
The sheriff announced in December that he would be segregating military veteran inmates to offer them special programs.
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