Pennsylvania township can’t ban 'thin blue line' flag, federal judge rules
Pennsylvania township can’t ban 'thin blue line' flag, federal judge rules
Springfield Township cannot ban municipal employees from displaying the "thin blue line" flag, a federal judge ruled Monday.
It's a hate flag, no less than the Confederate or Nazi flags, but they're allowed too — in your window at home, or on the bumper of your personal car.
This, though, is vile —
… Tensions began when the Springfield Township Police Department incorporated the “thin blue line” flag into its official logo in 2021. ...
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Believing that banning a piece of fabric will stop police oppression is, ironically, encouraging such oppression by coercively violating the right to private property and freedom of expression.
From the article:
Springfield Township officials banned its employees from displaying the flag on township property in January...
It has nothing to do with private property. I think it might be a slight bit fucked to walk into a Township courthouse and have the secretary flying a Nazi or Confederate flag. This is really no different. It certainly would deter me if I wanted to report excessive force if half the township was flying a flag that basically signaled that they believe the police no matter what. I don't see how banning the display as a public employee, at the place where you work as a public employee, is infringing on anyone's privately held freedom of expression.
See you're completely correct, and there's literally no coherent argument against your point. How the fuck do we have federal judges who come to other conclusions?
Suppose police officers on duty were flying a flag with the burger king logo? Wouldn't the town be justified in prohibiting it? They can fly whatever they want on their own time and property, but not with public money.
Now what if they were flying a Republican flag while on duty? Not saying they're the same, but the thin blue line flag is political in nature, and it's inappropriate for an officer on duty to be advocating for political positions.