Protesters Burn American Flag At Jason Aldean Concert; No Arrests Made

TINLEY PARK, IL — A group of protesters gathered outside a Jason Aldean concert Saturday in Tinley Park, shouting to the crowd over a microphone and setting an American flag ablaze in a display of contempt toward the country singer.

An estimated 20 people from Revolution Club Chicago showed up to Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park to protest the show, namely over Aldean's song, "Try That In A Small Town." The hit song has topped charts and triggered some listeners, drawing both criticism and praise, with some calling its lyrics pro-gun, pro-lynching and racist messaging.

"I burn this (expletive) American rag because this country stands for slavery, genocide, and war," group leader Leo Pargo is heard saying during the protest, in a video shared by NBC.

Revolution Club Chicago is known as a far-left group that calls for a revolution against capitalism, among other things.

Aldean, 46, stirred backlash with his song, in large part due to its accompanying music video, in which Aldean performs at Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. The courthouse is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate, the Associated Press reports. Mixed with performance footage of Aldean are news clips of violent riots and flag burning. CMT removed the video from the air just days after its July debut.

"Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you're tough," Aldean's lyrics read. "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town."

Pargo is seen in the video setting the flag on fire. Another protester dangled an additional flag over the flames, letting it catch fire as police surrounded the group and announced the protest was considered an unlawful assembly. Police can be heard threatening intervention with physical or chemical means if the protest continued.

Aldean, who has been a staunch Conservative and outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, refuted claims then that he was trying to stoke outrage, calling those allegations "not only meritless but dangerous," the Associated Press wrote.

No arrests were made following the protest Saturday in Tinley Park, officials said. Aldean has yet to comment on the incident.