Republicans have “appropriated” July 4th

A Harvard study has said that Republicans own July 4th:

The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century.  (Emphasis mine.)

That makes it sound as if Republicans engaged in some nefarious propaganda scheme to steal away American iconography.  Perhaps Republicans didn’t take it; perhaps Democrats gave it away:

Anti-war protesters burn flag
Hanoi Jane
Jane Fonda in North Vietnam
Los Angeles Immigration Rally
The Democrats' friends in LA make a point
Sign at a Code Pink Rally