UNC student says he was willing to die for US flag during pro-Palestinian protest

A student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who was captured in a viral photo spoke about how he and his classmates protected the United States flag from being destroyed by pro-Palestinian protesters .

Dan Stompel recalled how he and his fellow counterprotesters would alert each other of incoming objects being thrown at them. The students protected the flag for one hour, with Stompel saying that their hands and arms were hurting by the end, joking that he skipped the gym for the day.

"I remember we were all standing in there, and I think I made a joke — I don't know if it's a joke — I was like, 'I'd die for this flag,' and everybody was like, ‘Yeah, if they get any closer we're going to start throwing hands,’” Stompel told Fox News Digital. “'We're not going anywhere, I don't care. They're going to have to tear me off this flag by my dead body.'"

Stompel described the event he and his fellow students went through as “insane,” but he said he was smiling in reflecting on it because of how “hopeful” it felt to do what they felt was right amid the protests. He added that it was good to see people and “patriots” willing to put their lives on the line to protect the U.S. flag.

"Don't bend a knee to these people,” Stompel said. “They want you gone. They want to take over. They want to just destroy what this country stands for. Bring their own twisted ideology into every orifice of this country. Don't let them do that. Don't let them do that. Take a stand. Be a man, take a stand."

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In the wake of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers protecting the U.S. flag and the viral photo capturing the moment, a fundraiser was launched on Wednesday to throw a “rager” to honor the men for their protection of Old Glory. As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised close to $500,000.

The organizer, John Noonan, said he is now working on the party with Susan Ralston, “a world-class event planner” who previously worked in the White House . Ralston worked as an executive assistant to senior adviser Karl Rove during the George W. Bush administration.