Cold Spring Police Department Removes Black Flag Blue Line Decals From Vehicles

The Highlands Current reported that the Cold Spring Police Officer In Charge, Larry Burke, has removed the black flag decals that were placed onto police vehicles last year, in response to "complaints from residents," according to the newspaper. The decals were the design of the black American Flag with one blue stripe running through it. This is a different design than the solid black rectangle with the thin blue line running through it, traditionally used to honor a fallen police officer, which has been used for decades.

The Highlands Current pointed out that the black flag decal has been "popularized by Blue Lives Matter, a national campaign created in reaction to Black Lives Matter. The symbol has more recently been appropriated by white supremacists," and was flown in the 2017 riots in Charlottesville, Virginia when a white supremacist ran over counterprotesters with a van.