The Thin Blue Line flag—which is seen by some as a way to show support for police and law enforcement, and those who had fallen in the line of duty—reemerged on the Saugus High School football field Oct. 28 in Santa Clarita, California, despite the district superintendent and coach calling for the flag to stop flying on campus.
During pre-game festivities, a Saugus High football player carried the flag—a black and white replica of the American flag with a blue stripe—onto the field.
Some have claimed the reemergence of the flag made them feel uncomfortable.
Last month, Saugus’s football team’s coach said the team can no longer use the flag in its pregame ceremonies. Later, the decision was echoed by the William S. Hart Union High School District superintendent, which oversees the school.
Superintendent Mike Kuhlman said in a letter to the community in September the flag had become controversial.
“Just three short days ago, I became aware of a concern about this symbol being flown at Saugus High School football games,” Kuhlman wrote in the letter. “Despite emails for immediate action, and threats of consequences if certain steps weren’t taken within a specific timeline, we determined to take our time to understand the issue accurately and to respond thoughtfully.”
He said that the district is seeking alternative methods to show support for law enforcement.
“Please note that this decision does not translate into a change in support for law enforcement,” Kuhlman wrote. “The degree of enthusiasm behind our District’s backing of law enforcement is not measured by the acceptance or rejection of any one particular symbol.”
However, some said they did not agree with the decision to remove the flag.
Hart school board president Joe Messina said during a board meeting in September it was insulting for the district to decide not to let the team use the flag.
“I believe, personally, this is a slap in the face of those who came running towards danger at Saugus High School,” Messina said.
Saugus High was the site of a deadly mass shooting in 2019. Some members of the football team at Saugus High were freshmen when the shooting happened.
The shooting resulted in three students’ deaths and two others wounded. The gunman shot himself to death before law enforcement arrived.
Speakers at a school board meeting last month expressed their support and opposition to the decision.
One, who said she was a 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, said she was dismayed and upset with the decision to stop using the flag.
Another speaker, a parent of students in Saugus public schools, said there were “a thousand other ways” to show support of law enforcement.
