OC Sheriff Draws Heat Over Thin Blue Line Flag Raised

[quaint]

VOICE of OC

The flag was originally dedicated to police officers years ago but has recently become popularized within Blue Lives Matter, a pro-law enforcement countermovement to Black Lives Matter, which seeks an end to police violence and systemic racism toward Black people in America.

Sheriff spokeswoman Carrie Braun said the flag was raised as part of an annual Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Day ceremony that the department participates in, and that the flag was “completely unrelated” to the events in Minnesota and wasn’t a political statement in support of Blue Lives Matter.

Critics like local Santa Ana organizer Hairo Cortes called the use of the flag “tone deaf,” after news of Floyd’s death in police custody — and video of a white Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck — prompted demonstrations across the country.

Though the flag itself dates back before the start of the Blue Lives Matter movement, “as much as the thin blue line flag tries to be disassociated that, the reality is the two can’t be separated,” said Carlos Perea, a police reform advocate and Santa Ana’s first undocumented city commissioner.

[exboyfil]

1. You don't alter the US flag

I still can't understand how this is a thing.

[Starfury]

7. Technically, it's a violation of the U.S. Flag Code

It's not illegal, but it is a violation of 4 U.S. Code § 8. Respect for flag

(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.

U.S. Flag Code

[keithbvadu2]

2. These faux militia types parading around with their big guns certainly don't believe in blue lives m

These faux militia types parading around with their big guns certainly don't believe in blue lives matter.

The police are who they would be shooting it out with.

[abqtommy]

3. You fly a flag, you own the rag...

[safeinOhio]

4. This is trump America

Only Wall Street lives matter.

[msongs]

5. black and blue, like bruises from getting beat up by LEO nt

[quaint]

6. Succinctly true