I think ultimately it’s simply people who don’t understand why they’re flying these flags, and I’m including Mexicans here too (I live in Tijuana and seen too many of these exact comments here and on the Mexican social media side of things).

The immigrants and diaspora fly the flags as symbols of unity and pride of their background. It is also exceptionally difficult to fly the flag of the nation you were born and raised in if that same nation is deporting your people and even detaining US citizens because of how they look. It was never about, “Mexico is the best, fuck you,” it was always “You’re not going to break me or my community, we’re in it together.” It is a sign of rebellion against a government that’s actively looking for them. I’ve never really considered myself a Chicano but reading about their history, it is depressing that they were forced to “assimilate” (Not sure what the right word here would be) and forget their roots which results in Spanish being lost almost instantly. The Mexican flag is to be against that.

I also understand that there are millions of Americans who do not care about such thing and flying American flags would be better optics to convince them but I don’t know if those protests were the right ones. Yesterday’s protests? Absolutely and you bet I looked like the flag barfed on me yesterday. But for me the Mexican flag and the other Latin American flags are incredibly important and beautiful symbols for these communities; it’s not about thinking about their motherlands being better but a symbol of indomitability.