LAPD Chiefs Bans “Thin Blue Line” Flag Because of Its Allegedly Extremist Symbolism
Jose Nino
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The Los Angeles Police Department recently banned the “Thin Blue Line” flag at LAPD lobbies in addition to other public areas on police property. According to a report by Olivia Rondeau of The Post Millennial, this ban was prompted by a complaint from an individual who believed that the symbol indicates support for “extremist” ideologies such as “those espoused by the Proud Boys,” according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
On January 14, 2023, Moore sent an email to department personnel announcing the decision to remove the flags. He blamed “extremist groups” who have “hijacked the use” of the Thin Blue Line and used this as the pretext to ban this symbol.
Earlier last week, a member of the public was critical of a “Thin Blue Line Flag” adorned over the front desk of Rampart Station. The individual’s complaint is based on their belief the symbol embodies support of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and other aligned groups.
“I directed to have the item taken down in our lobbies wherever possible. Memorials for our fallen are also authorized in all public spaces,” Moore stated.
The police chief highlighted how he disagreed with the disgruntled individual’s views, but admitted that the symbol is divisive.
The police chief, appointed in 2018 by former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, went on to say that he disagreed with the community member’s views, but conceded its divisiveness.
“While I do not personally view the ‘Thin Blue Line Flag’ in the same manner as the community member and others, its display in our public lobbies can be divisive.”
He stressed that personnel can still keep a Thin Blue Line symbol in personal areas — for example, workspaces or locker.s
“It’s unfortunate that extremist groups have hijacked the use of the ‘Thin Blue Line Flag’ to symbolize their undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views,” Moore lamented.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), the local police union, was critical of Moore’s move. The LAPPL board of directors sent a statement to Fox News, where they described the decision as a form of “political pandering.”
“It is difficult to express the level of utter disgust and disappointment with Chief Moore’s politically pandering directive to remove Thin Blue Line flags and memorials for fallen officers from all public areas within our police stations,” the union representatives said in their statement.
“This direction came as a result of complaints from anti-police, criminal apologists, and activists who hold too much sway over our city leaders and, unfortunately, our Chief,” the LAPPL board of directors continued .
The police union board of directors stated that they’re “vehemently” against “this disrespectful and defeatist kowtowing by our department leadership to groups that praise the killing of police officers and outright call for violence against those of us in uniform.”
“We have directly expressed our outrage to the Chief,” the board indicated.
The US finds itself in a bizarre social state, where mere symbols and words can make people throw fits. It’s a sign of our dysfunctional times where people have been overly coddled and subjected to the excesses of political correctness culture. Similar bans of this nature will occur if this pc insanity is not contained.
There comes a point when people just need to grow up and accept that symbols they disagree with don’t constitute a real threat to their lives. In a land marked by such a degree of insanity, simple logic is an afterthought.
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