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White flag with blue stripes12/9/2023 The term “thin blue line” came into fashion in the 1950s, when Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Parker frequently referenced it in speeches. A spokesman for Bass said Thursday that there was no truth to the rumors. The decision has also given rise to rumors in law enforcement circles that Mayor Karen Bass’ office was planning to remove tributes to fallen officers from all police stations, too. Some officers began circulating a years-old photo of Moore holding the flag while marching beside former L.A. They likened the ban to Moore’s decision to kneel alongside protesters at huge protests following Floyd’s murder. Others felt the angry reaction to the ban was overblown.īut even those who didn’t feel strongly about the flag said it created the perception of kowtowing to progressive activists. Inside the department, some said they saw Moore’s move as the chief taking sides in a clash over policing that has ratcheted up in recent years following the police killings of George Floyd and other Black people, according to officers who spoke with The Times on the condition that their identities be kept secret so that they could speak freely. Jamie McBride, an outspoken union officer, posted a photo of the flag hanging from the side of a house on his Instagram account, with the caption “Shame on you Chief Moore! We bleed BLUE!” ![]() During one of her regular appearances on Fox News, former reality star and Olympic decathlete Caitlyn Jenner accused Moore of “going woke on us big time” and predicted that the move would deal a blow to officer morale. Moore’s decision went viral in right-wing media circles as critics lambasted him for what they called his kowtowing to progressive ideals. Flags serve as powerful symbols with specific meanings,” he wrote, adding that officers would still be allowed to display the flag in their personal work spaces, lockers and personal vehicles. “It’s unfortunate that extremist groups have hijacked the use of the ‘Thin Blue Line Flag’ to symbolize their undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views. In a departmentwide email, Moore said the flag’s original meaning of support for police had been overshadowed when it began appearing at rallies for the Proud Boys and other far-right extremist groups. Violators could face discipline, a department spokeswoman said Thursday. The tension between those irreconcilable interpretations spilled over in the Los Angeles Police Department this month, when Chief Michel Moore ordered the flag, which was widely displayed in station lobbies around the city, to be removed from public view.Īlong with banning the flag from station lobbies, Moore said his order includes patches on uniforms and bumper stickers on police vehicles. To others, the black-and-white American flag with a single blue stripe is a potent symbol of the ties between right-wing extremism and American law enforcement. For some, the “thin blue line” flag is an expression of solidarity with police officers who have lost their lives on the job.
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