‘Thin blue line’ flag at Montgomery Co. police station stirs up controversy

Long story short: guy and his son make a “thin blue line” flag for their local substation of Montgomery County PD and present it to the station on First Responders Day. Officers there appreciate it and tell the makers that they’ll put it up on display inside the station (it’s made of wood).

Not so fast, says Montgomery County executive Marc Eldrich. The flag is apparently a symbol of divisiveness and submissiveness, and as such it will not be displayed at the substation nor any other public space in any police building in the the county. Elrich claims that he’s committed to improving community relations for the police department and as such, symbols like a thin blue line flag have no place in policing.

The governor seems to disagree with the county executive on that point. Luckily, we have NBC’s article to point out that some alleged white supremacists carried the flag at some point, and that’s why it’s bad. I’ve heard white supremacists also use forks, so that may be the next thing to go for “having ties to the white supremacist movement.”

Can the police department tell him to go kick rocks and display the sign anyways?

a reply to: Shamrock6

I hope they put it on display. I wear a "Blue Lives Matter" band on my wrist and always make sure it's turned to show "Blue" so nobody thinks I'm wearing a black lives matter band. This one also has a blue line through it and I have a blue line sticker on my window that reads "WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK". Not a single issue. However, Montgomery County, MD is one of the few counties that voted for Clinton (75%) so it's no surprise that they hate law enforcement there.

Too bad those who support the law, and the law itself can't pack up and leave these cities where they're not appreciated. Then we could see just how much the leftovers appreciate the law.

They should get together and print hundreds of the thin blue line yard signs and hang them in his yard daily until he gives up on this futile fight and works on something more important to the community.

a reply to: Shamrock6

York, Maine had a similar issue:

In July 2019, the "Thin Blue Line" American Flag was put up by residents of York, Maine, as a way to pay tribute to a local police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty decades ago. Due to locals being concerned that the flag was being used as a symbol of white supremacy, the flag was subsequently taken down

There have been others too... Thin Blue Line- Wikipedia
I think we are getting a bit too snowflakey here in the US. I liked your 'forks' example.

we have them here [ UK ] - and thier sales is a fundraiser for police charities

we also have red and green versions

for trumpton [ fire rescue ] and ambulance drivers [ oops EMS ]



and yes - some people get bent out of shape by them - but ...................

the one on my jacket has all 3 - so i can offend eneryone

a reply to: Shamrock6

White supremacists also use toilet paper, so I hear.



What's divisive over supporting something?

I support the Chicago Bears. So I can't show that support because it might offend Packer fans?

a reply to: DBCowboy

Strange how when a person looks for divisiveness and offensive things everywhere, that person can find them everywhere, innit?

a reply to: Shamrock6

The flag is apparently a symbol of divisiveness and submissiveness,

not quite, but i do think it is very disrespectful to the American flag and clearly violates the flag code. find a new flag to represent it instead of discoloring old glory. it offends me in that way, but only enough to SMH and walk away.

a Canadian once asked me what was up with it and i explained it to him... he said "oh, its strange because we all know up here that you guys love your flag so much i wasn't sure why anyone let that happen" ... because its clearly disrespectful to make a parody flag and use it for politics.

a reply to: smkymcnugget420

The counter-argument to your point is that the thin blue line flag is based on the American flag. One does not take an American flag and dye it black and blue.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely see the point you’re making. That’s the rebuttal I’ve heard to it, however.

a reply to: Shamrock6

the USA has a flag code [ a text that details what the US flag can and cannot be used for ] - its clear that few merkins have actually read it .

a reply to: ignorant_ape

but ................... the one on my jacket has all 3 - so i can offend eneryone

a reply to: Shamrock6

I don't really care what it is meant to represent or not, maybe it is meant to be a good thing, but it is still a violation of our flag code.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

Our flag is fine as it is and if you're going to salute a flag or use one properly, then let it be the one millions have died for. The ONLY modification I am ok with is the low visibility muted green for spec ops, because that can save lives.

originally posted by: Oraculi
a reply to: Shamrock6

I don't really care what it is meant to represent or not, maybe it is meant to be a good thing, but it is still a violation of our flag code.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

Our flag is fine as it is and if you're going to salute a flag or use one properly, then let it be the one millions have died for. The ONLY modification I am ok with is the low visibility muted green for spec ops, because that can save lives.

Gotta love the left. Disrespect or burn it when they push a political message, then protect it when the political message doesn't align with their opinions. We didn't need any more examples of the left's extreme hypocrisy, but I guess we will continue to get them.

a reply to: Shamrock6

What part was offensive, the thin blue line or the rest of the Flag?

Leftist: ALL of it, you Nazi Scum! Hits Flag with Bike Lock.

"Everyone I don't like or disagree with is a racist"

Liberals will keep this up because idiots continue to allow it to work.

originally posted by: Oraculi
a reply to: Shamrock6

I don't really care what it is meant to represent or not, maybe it is meant to be a good thing, but it is still a violation of our flag code.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

Our flag is fine as it is and if you're going to salute a flag or use one properly, then let it be the one millions have died for. The ONLY modification I am ok with is the low visibility muted green for spec ops, because that can save lives.

An American flag is red white and blue.

A black and white collection of stripes and stars with a blue line across it is not an American flag. Ergo, the flag code doesn’t apply.

I’m sure the non-“spec ops” guys who do work in the military will be super bummed to find out you don’t approve of their usage muted flags on their uniforms, though.

ETA - regardless, the flag code wasn’t the reason given for the order so that’s moot.

Ever notice when the Liberal Socialists don't like something, they always claim that it is a "symbol" of "white supremacy"?

a reply to: DBCowboy

not this marc eldritch guy because hes just so full of sh-t

The Klan has a habit of carrying the United States Flag...

I'm offended, let's ban it.