Man paints home to look like American flag in protest

BRADENTON, FL (KTRK) -- A Florida home is causing quite a stir after a military vet painted his home like an American flag to make a point to city officials.

Brent Greer, the owner of the house, says his freedom is being infringed upon by code enforcement. He says he wants to send them a very clear message.

"We painted it to remind the city that this is still America, and that others people's freedom of expression doesn't trump my freedom of expression," said Greer.

Greer says he got the idea to paint his home after code enforcement cited him for various violations. Those violations include having children's toys in his yard and his home needing a fresh coat of paint.

"It makes me extremely angry," said Greer. "You're coming to my property and telling me my appearance to my house, no safety issues or whatever, strictly cosmetic, doesn't meet the standard of some other elitist in this town, and I need to fix it well that's crazy; this is America."

A local Realtor originally filed the complaint with the city because the Greers had a live Christmas tree in their yard. When code enforcement investigated the tree, they found the other violations.

"The City of Bradenton is not the only jurisdiction in America who has rules," a city spokesman said. "Wherever you are in America, you have to follow some rules."

Greer says those rules are selectively enforced. And while he admits his home does need work, he says the violations are minor cosmetic issues that should be corrected on his own timeline, not the city's.

"My kids come first, so by the time I get around to painting or something, it's way down on the list; it's just not a priority," said Greer.