LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. — Tensions are building on the campus of Valdosta State University after a flag protest.
For the first time, we are hearing from the woman seen a YouTube video being held down by police after she picked up an American flag off of the ground at a protest at Valdosta State last week.
Channel 2's Matt Belanger traveled to Valdosta where thousands of her supporters gathered Friday
Some are calling the woman a hero.
Belanger spoke to students who said they support what protestors did Friday, but they weren't happy VSU cancelled classes as a national debate over treatment of the American flag came to the south Georgia city.
"I just hate to see that kind of hatred in anyone," said Carolyn Smith.
They came for different reasons.
"The whole world needs to understand this old flag is important," said Vietnam vet Richard Stone.
They flooded Patterson Street with red, white and blue.
"I did four years on the marine corps and two-and-a-half in the honor guard burying Marines dying in combat. So stepping on the flag really hits home for me," said Donnie Wilson.
A huge demonstration of patriotism in response to a protest last week where students demonstrating against racism walked on an American flag placed on the ground.
It's an act that's offensive to these supporters, but not illegal.
"I think the Supreme Court made a mistake when they said that," Smith said.
"It's crazy and it's given Valdosta a bad name," said Robin Carter.
Many in this crowd told Belanger they believe desecrating the American flag should be against the law.
"When I see that it's almost like that desecration was toward the people who died for that freedom and I'm pretty sure that's not how they feel," said protest organizer and Air Force veteran Michelle Manhart.
Manhart was the woman seen in a YouTube video that grabbed the flag off of the ground and was detained by police for refusing to give it back.
Manhart has been banned from Valdosta's campus.
"That's when I was my heart can't take this anymore it was making me sick and so I said I'm going to do that's right and get the flag off of the ground," Manhart said.
Valdosta's police chief told me there were no arrests at Friday's rally.
"I think we demonstrated you know what we can have opposing views and it doesn't have to be violent," said Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress.
Meanwhile, Childress is still looking for student Eric Sheppard from the Atlanta area. He happened to participate in that initial protest where students walked on the flag but that's not why police are after him.
Police said later in the week he brought a gun on campus which is prohibited.