Homeowners in a southern California neighborhood were outraged Monday after their local Homeowners Association demanded they take down their American flag as Americans nationwide prepare to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday.

Three homeowners in San Marcos, identified as Terri Collins, Amy Cooke and Chris Cooke, said their HOA warned them that they could face a $100 fine if they continued flying American flags outside their homes. 

“I’m not taking my flag down,” Collins said. “They can fine me, $100, $200, $1,000, I’m not paying it.”

The local homeowners association attempted to describe the display of the American flag as "political" and has been pushing neighbors to take down their flags since shortly before the 2024 presidential election, according to the Daily Wire. 

“Once the members allow use of a common property by an owner to express what is essentially a political or affiliative view in a flag, other owners will want to do the same and the common area will degrade,” a letter from the HOA board stated.

The neighbors described the neighborhood as being very patriotic because it is near the former Miramar Navy Air Station, the original home of the Navy’s TOPGUN school. San Marcos is in San Diego County.

“We are outraged, if you want to fly your flag fly it, this is America,” Amy Cooke told the California Post. “We are the land of the free and home of the brave, this is crazy. There’s a significant difference between some random flag for whatever you support and the American flag, the symbol of our country. It’s not just a flag. It’s a symbol.”

The Cookes are expected to meet with the HOA board on Tuesday and said they will sue the association if it does not back down and allow them to fly the flag without the fine. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.