Thin Blue Line Flags Focus Of Bay Area 'Racism' Controversy

LIVERMORE, CA — Publicly posted notes on Livermore's city website were "taken badly out of context" over the weekend, officials announced Sunday. The notes in question sparked debate over whether "Thin Blue Line" flags were a symbol of hate.

Law Enforcement Today published an article condemning Nov. 17 notes from a Livermore Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting.

The subcommittee was discussing the "look and feel" of Livermore when "Thin Blue Line" flags, typically a symbol of support for law enforcement, appeared to be listed among symbols in Livermore that could "represent and signify systematic racism as well as symbols, etc. that signify equity and inclusion."

The discussion was originally centered around city-owned property and referred to items such as the "Pride flag cowboy, field/vineyard worker, murals, Livermore seal (cowboy), sculptures of families/children with Eurocentric features, ranch brands, totem pole."

The Culture committee additionally suggested expanding the scope of the project to include such symbols on private property, including the "confederate flag, Thin Blue Line flag, inclusive signs."

The subgroup and city officials planned to "address the symbols, acknowledge and reduce systemic racism, and promote equity and inclusion."

While the subgroup did not specifically equate the Thin Blue Line flags to racism, they did suggest that they would be discussed, along with a multitude of other "symbols" in the context of the racism and inclusion.

"Well apparently, one of their charges is to hunt down so-called 'artifacts and other symbols throughout the city that represent and signify systemic racism as well as the symbols that signify equity and inclusion," Law Enforcement Today responded in its article published over the weekend.

The author of the article decried the subcommittee's plan to encourage group members to take photos of the discussed symbols around the city; to include when and where the photo was taken and place details into a shared Google Document.

"Unfortunately, symbols can have very different meanings to different groups, can be misunderstood by others, and can trigger anger and division," Mayor-elect Bob Woerner and Council Member Trish Munro wrote in a letter responding to the article on Sunday. "For example, some people see the Black Lives Matter sign as a way of reminding others that some groups have been systemically oppressed throughout American history and into the present. Similarly, some people see the Thin Blue Line flag as a way of supporting the people who put their lives on the line to provide public safety.

Signers of the letter argued that the meeting notes "summarize each meeting’s brainstorming and robust conversations, so that the whole community can see the process, warts and all," adding "unfortunately....has led to the misunderstanding that occurred a few days ago."

Read the full letter from the subcommittee here

To combat further division, the city invited all Livermore residents to submit their own opinion on the matter by emailing info@cityoflivermore.net with the subject line "Livermore Culture Stories."