San Francisco removed an “Appeal to Heaven” flag that flew outside city hall after Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was in the spotlight for hanging one himself. 

On Saturday, city officials swapped the flag with an American one. The city said the “Appeal to Heaven” flag was originally raised on Flag Day in 1964 at the Civic Center, which is home to city hall, but no longer represents San Francisco values.

“This flag was originally used during the American Revolutionary War, flown by George Washington’s cruisers, and is associated with the early quest for American independence. It’s since been adopted by a different group, one that doesn’t represent the city’s values, so we made the decision to swap it with the American flag,” said Daniel Montes, communications manager for San Francisco Recreation and Parks.

The flag dates back to the Revolutionary War. The words “Appeal to Heaven” stem from the belief that God would protect the colonists from then-British tyranny, and the pine tree symbolizes strength and resilience.

During the “Stop the Steal” movement after the 2020 election, in which former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the election was stolen, the flag became a symbol of resistance as some Jan. 6 rioters carried that flag as well as upside-down American flags. 

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Alito has come under fire in recent weeks after the New York Times reported his house in Virginia flew an upside-down American flag in the days following the Jan. 6 riot and the inauguration of President Joe Biden. It was later reported that Alito’s beach home in New Jersey also flew the “Appeal to Heaven” flag in 2022.

Alito said Wednesday that he would not recuse himself from two cases involving Jan. 6 rioters and Trump’s immunity claim despite calls from some Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to do so.