Valdosta State University protesters walk on flag..what could have been done better in this situation?

It's actually illegal in the state of Texas to desecrate the flag...

Might as well protest WWII. I commend her to have the guts to get the flag.

Johnny Cash - Ragged Old Flag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whmVGRSgAe8

** UPDATE **

Playboy-posing veteran in flag scuffle. Sets off debate on everything ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/20/playboy-posing-veteran-in-flag-scuffle-sets-off-debate-over-everything/?tid=hpModule_9d3add6c-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e&hpid=z16

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
—Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMarineCorps

SSG (Join to see), it's his right but it's shameful behavior.

Here is an interesting perspective on the First Amendment rights of the protestors:

http://reason.com/blog/2015/04/19/valdosta-state-admins-side-with-flag-sto#comment

Personally, I find them protesting America due to slavery is entirely inane as they are currently college students and are some of the best well off people in the world (in comparison). Slavery was a terrible thing, but it has thankfully left our country and is no longer an issue. Those who continue to complain about it must not be aware (or choose not to be) of the continued human trafficking and slavery happening throughout the world even today.

I agree with the protestors' rights to walk on the flag. I agree with the veteran being angry about it. I do not agree with her being arrested for her actions.

While I do not personally like what they are doing, it is free speech and their right to do so. Hilariously enough, they are complaining about the country that gives them all their freedom and from their actions (on camera) I suspect they will have difficulty finding jobs in the future, therefore taking away some of their own freedoms by their bad decisions.

I am doing all I can to refrain from finding these sob's and walking over them as they lay flat on the ground. From me running them the fck over

I think that Valdosta University leadership needs to grow some leadership and courage and not allow something this disrespectful to happen.
The students probably don't even have a clue as to why they are being disrespectful. Funny because they are all in higher education you would think that they could do some research and know that its illegal to trample an American flag.
Furthermore I think it would be appropriate to cite every single one of those protestors who trampled on the flag and let them have their day in court, include the leadership of Valdosta University in that group because they allowed this disrespectful behavior to happen.
And below is a link to the US Code about Flag desecration.
18 U.S. Code § 700 - Desecration of the flag of the United States; penalties
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/700

What could have been done better? The officers involved could have controlled the scene better, but that's about it and also an armchair observation.

The protesters were fully within the bounds of the law and had every right to act in the manner that they did. That said, just because something is legal doesn't mean it's right and I would not have personally handled the situation as gracefully as Ms. Manhart did. She was arrested, but not charged. I would doubt the same could be said for me if I was involved as I have a very short and hot temper when it comes to things like this.