Want to celebrate your independence this July 4? Put your American flags away. Instead, fly a California flag.

According to court records, a Scotts Valley police officer removed the women's banners, but left up a U.S. flag that someone else had displayed. Caltrans had not approved any of the displays.

An Oregon library window was shot after it displayed a Pride flag on June 6, and in Washington state, 14 Pride banners were slashed on June 1. For more from NBC Out, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Flags and banners are now flying from overpasses in East Providence, they can be spotted while driving along Interstate 195 east or west. "We put our flags up and banners and try to encourage ...