A federal court has ruled that a ban by Pennsylvania communities on the display of the American flag with a thin blue line supporting law enforcement is unconstitutional.
Springfield Township, about 15 miles from Philadelphia, argued the use of the flag created “dissatisfaction and mistrust” in the community toward the police.
However, US District Judge Karen Marston ruled that the ban restricts public employees’ freedom of speech under the First Amendment.
“The Township has repeatedly suggested that the ‘Thin Blue Line’ American Flag is of limited, if any, value or public concern because it is ‘offensive’ and ‘racist,'” Marston wrote in the court opinion. “But as this Court has told us before this to the Township, ‘The First Amendment protects speech even if it is deemed ‘offensive.’”
Marston said the municipality called the flag various names bordering on unprofessional.
He acknowledged that “it cannot be denied that the Flag carries a racist tone to certain members of society.”
Wally Zimolong, a lawyer representing the police officer, said the court decision was a vindication of his client’s claim.
“It’s a resounding victory for the First Amendment and free speech,” he said. “It once again shows that the government cannot engage in point-of-view discrimination based on messages it disagrees with or deems offensive.”
A federal court has ruled that a Pennsylvania municipality cannot ban an American flag with a thin blue stripe from public display.AP
Tensions over the flag began when the city’s police union voted in 2021 to include the flag in its logo. Several municipal commissioners opposed the measure because the flag has been associated with Blue Lives Matter, which has been used by police supporters in response to Black Lives Matter.
The union voted to reject the commissioner’s request to replace it, even though the township offered to pay up to $10,000 to replace it. Last year, the municipal attorney sent a cease and desist letter to the union.
The letter said the use of the flag in the union’s logo “necessarily exacerbates the ongoing conflict between police officers and the communities they serve,” and ordered the union to stop using the flag or remove Springfield Township from its name.
After the union refused to take down the flag or change its name, commissioners adopted a policy barring municipal employees, agents or consultants from displaying the flag while on duty or representing the municipality.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the township commissioner.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
