A college has come under fire over its decision to stop flying the American flag in the wake of Donald Trump's election win.

Hampshire College, a liberal arts school in Amherst, Massachusetts, made the decision after a series of controversies surrounding the university's policy on the flag.

It first created headlines by siding with a students' decision to lower the flag to half-mast after the election.

However, when the flag was torched on November 10 - the day before Veterans Day, locals became furious with the school's stance.

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Hampshire College, a liberal arts school in Amherst, Massachusetts, has come under fire over its decision to stop flying the American flag in the wake of Donald Trump's election win. Pictured is the school's flag at half-mast, before it was removed entirely

President Jonathan Lash explained the rationale behind lowering the flag in a statement.

'In the current environment of escalating hate-based violence, we made the decision to fly Hampshire's U.S. flag at half-staff for a time while the community delved deeper into the meaning of the flag and its presence on our campus,' he wrote in the statement.

'This was meant as an expression of grief over the violent deaths being suffered in this country and globally, including the many U.S. service members who have lost their lives.

'Our intention was to create the space for meaningful and respectful dialogue across the many perspectives represented in our community.'

He then went on to address criticism the school has received, and made clear why no flag will fly at the school for the time being.

'Some have perceived the action of lowering the flag as a commentary on the results of the presidential election - this, unequivocally, was not our intent,' Lash wrote.

The school made the decision after a series of controversies surrounding the university's policy on the flag (pictured)

A worker at the college in Massachusetts is seen taking the flag down on campus

'After some preliminary consultation with campus constituents (much more is needed), we decided on Friday that we will not fly the U.S. flag or any other flags on our college flagpole for the time being.

'We hope this will enable us in the near term to instead focus our efforts on addressing racist, misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and behaviors.'

Many students appeared supportive of the stance, posting images and video to social media celebrating the change.

Alums also commented on the college's Facebook page saying the were 'proud' at the school for taking a strong stance.

President Jonathan Lash (left) explained the rationale behind lowering the flag in a statement (right)

The school (pictured) took the flag down entirely after it was torched on November 10

However, some from outside the school flooded its Facebook page with negative comments.

'As both a veteran and a taxpayer, I am appalled at the decision of this college to ban the flying of the US flag, the symbol of your school's educational freedom. I sincerely hope that the parents of your precious students, the ones actually paying the tuition, withdraw their support,' Bob Gardner wrote.

'That's a horrible decision. If my sons went to Hampshire College or had applied there I would have pulled them out,' Deb Levine commented.

'You need to lose your Federal Funding if you are not going to honor the American Flag because of a bunch of whining little runts who never got punished or spanked as kids growing up,' Robert Diberto angrily wrote.