According to recent reports, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) restored a local department’s “red line” American flag after its forced removal sparked intense controversy. For context, the flag was reportedly flown to honor the lives of six members of FDNY Ladder Company 11 who died on 9/11, trying to rescue victims from the horrific terrorist attack.
The flag, which features a black and white American flag with a red stripe, was displayed on one of the company’s trucks. However, a man who claimed to work for Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, D-District 2, questioned this patriotic display to commemorate the fallen firefighters. The individual confronted firefighters over the flag in late March, claiming the flag was a “fascist symbol.”
Furthermore, a staffer from Councilmember Rivera’s office allegedly emailed the FDNY, claiming a “constituent” had complained about the flag. “[FDNY staff] claimed [the flag] was to honor deceased firefighters, however, [the constituent] brought up that they could’ve used an FDNY flag rather than a politically charged symbol,” according to sources on the staffer’s email.
The staffer questioned whether the flag, which they referred to as a “private political symbol,” was condoned by FDNY. New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Joseph Schiralli proceeded to visit Ladder Company 11 to inform them that the flag must come down due to a 2020 rule prohibiting the display of altered American flags.
As news spread of Ladder Company 11’s command to remove the flag, there was immediate backlash online, calling for leadership in FDNY to reverse the order. Backing the firefighter was Fire & Emergency Management Committee Chair Councilmember Joann Ariola, R-District 32, who celebrated the reversal on X.
“I want to extend a deep personal thank you to @FDNY,” she began thanking the fire department for allowing the fire fighter to honor the fallen first responders during the tragedy of 9/11. Ariola continued applauding Hodgens for taking a “bold stand” against the decision surrounding the flag.
According to Ariola’s message, Hodgens set a good example for officials to withstand the political pressure of “loud radicals” and remain grounded in what’s right. “Chief of Department John Hodgens for taking a bold stand and ordering the thin red line flag to be put back up at Ladder 11 last week. We are living in a time of increasing political pressure to adhere to certain ideologies – ideologies that seek to censor and shame anyone or anything that might dare to disagree with their positions,” the message read.
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Ariola added, “Chief Hodgens showed great personal courage by defying the will of certain loud radicals in government, and restoring that flag even when political forces were being arrayed against him. Thank you, Chief Hodgens, for doing what was right. May that honor and bravery become contagious, and spread throughout our city. We certainly need it.”
First responder flags have been the center of controversy in recent years where it is hotly debated whether they are permitted to be flown in the government contexts. A federal court recently ruled that a community resolution in a Pennsylvania township banning the thin blue flag, a pro-police symbol, was unconstitutional.
Featured image credit: SpinnerLaserz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thin_Red_Line_Flag_(United_States;_healthcare_variant).svg
Tdorante10, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._John%27s_Terminal_td_(2018-11-07)_03_-_FDNY_Drill.jpg