Newton City Councilors To Mayor: Reconsider Firefighter Flag Ban

NEWTON, MA — Most of the Newton city council signed a letter imploring Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to compromise after she ordered the firefighters at Station 4 to take down a flag that honored fallen firefighters.

The Newton Firefighters Association president said firefighters were told someone complained about a Thin Red Line flag, a flag that depicts an almost entirely gray U.S. flag, except for one of the red lines, symbolizing fallen firefighters. The mayor then ordered that only the U.S. flag and Newton city banners be displayed on city buildings, forcing the flag to be removed from inside of Station 4 where it has hung for some 2 1/2 years.

The flag came down ahead of Flag Day weekend.

"I like the mayor," said union President Marc Rizza in a phone conversation with the Patch. "I just think she's made a bad decision."

Rizza said that the union had no notice was a violation of the city's obligations under the law. The union then filed a complaint with the Department of Labor. Residents, upon hearing about the new flag policy organized two rallies in protest. The union stressed, that although heart warmed at the community response, it was not part of organizing the rally and didn't want to somehow create controversy over the recent social justice protests that have been happening in the aftermath of the deaths of Black men at the hands of law enforcement.

Then, some firefighters pointed out that there was a flag that was simply black background and a red stripe that had flown on the flagpole at the station in the past to show respect for injured or fallen firefighters.

In response, 20 city counselors sent a letter to the mayor Friday asking if that flag could be flown on the flag poles at stations in Newton, as a compromise.

City Council Vice President Rick Lipof said the mayor could have explained to the person who complained that the flag was not like the flag with the thin blue line - a controversial topic amid rallies spotlighting racial injustice at the hands of police, and the city's efforts to re-think the police department, but a flag to honor fallen firefighters.

"It angered the entire fire squad, which is what we don't need," said Lipof.

The councilor said he wanted residents and firefighters to know that not every city councilor feels the same way as the mayor on this one, and that they support the fire fighters.

"Our mayor has been working a lot of 17 hour days and having to make a lot of quick decisions, this one was just a little too quick and should have been thought through a little more," Lipof said.

The city councilors' proposal to allow firefighters to fly the different flag, feels like it could be a solution to the issue, he said.

"You're not supposed to change or alter the American flag anyway, so this gives a proper option," he said. "I'm hoping with 20 city councilors asking, that maybe she'll reconsider," Lipoff said.

Rizza stressed he holds nothing against the mayor, and understands she's got a lot on her plate, but just made the wrong call on this one.

"This whole thing is ridiculous," said Rizza. "This isn't about politics, or anything like that, it is about honoring our fallen brothers and sisters who have gone before us."

The mayor's office did not respond for request for comment Friday or Saturday about the new policy.

According to military code, the U.S. flag is not to be altered, including changing the colors. U.S. Flag Code is written in law and appears in Title 4 and Title 36 of U.S. Code. It was written and approved by Congress, as law.