Costa Mesa to weigh ‘ Blue Lives’ flag
About four months after voting to f ly the rainbow f lag outside City Hall, the Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday will consider raising a couple of other f lags: one for “Blue Lives Matter” and another for “In God We Trust.”
The city usually displays the U. S., California, POWMIA and Costa Mesa city f lags. But in May, the council updated its f lag policy to approve f lying the rainbow colors, a symbol of the LGBTQ community, from Harvey Milk Day on May 22 through June, which is Pride Month.
At the May 7 meeting, Councilman Allan Mansoor, who cast the only dissenting vote on the rainbow f lag, mentioned that he wanted to sponsor a resolution to f ly the Blue Lives Matter f lag — a symbol of support for law enforcement officers — and an “In God We Trust” f lag. Mansoor, a former Orange County sheriff ’s deputy, was not available for comment Friday.
City staff didn’t find a f lag depicting “In God We Trust” — the official motto of the United States — and said one would have to be custom- made and given a day to f ly, according to a staff report. The phrase is displayed in the council chamber.
The Blue Lives Matter f lag is a U. S. f lag typically including black stripes with a blue stripe running through the middle.
The report suggests the Blue Lives Matter f lag could f ly around May 15, which is designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day and falls during National Police Week, or on Jan. 9, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The report says staff couldn’t find other government bodies that display an “In God We Trust” f lag.
The phrase “Blue Lives Matter” began as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement that grew after the 2014 killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Blue Lives Matter supporters urge more respect for and better treatment of police forces across the country.
In April, Multnomah County in Oregon agreed to pay $ 100,000 to a black employee who sued, alleging she was harassed by coworkers after asking that a Blue Lives Matter f lag not be displayed at the office.
Four years ago, the city of Somerville, Mass., unfurled a Black Lives Matter banner over City Hall. The following year, police officers rallied in protest, carrying Blue Lives Matter f lags.
Costa Mesa’s decision to f ly a rainbow f lag elicited discussion at the May meeting from some who thought it symbolized inclusion and others who felt it showed intolerance for those who do not embrace the LGBTQ community.
Mansoor posted on Facebook at the time that he treated everyone with respect but was concerned the f lag “may mean different things to different people.”
“To some it may mean that we should treat everyone with respect, which if that were the sole symbolism of the f lag, I would support it,” he wrote. “To some, however, it may mean intolerance or hostility to anyone who morally or due to religious conviction does not support some of the things in the LGBTQ agenda, even though they do not support harassment or violence.”
About two weeks after the Costa Mesa council vote on the rainbow f lag, the Orange County Fair Board voted 6 to 1 to f ly it yearround.
Just days after the f lag was hoisted at the stateowned fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, somebody stole it. The fairgrounds replaced the f lag and added unspecified security measures.
Pinho writes for Times Community News.