More 'Thin Blue Line' Flags Pop Up In MD Since Elrich Ban

ROCKVILLE, MD — Ever since Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) barred cops from displaying a "thin blue line" flag at a Germantown police station three weeks ago, similar flags have been popping up across Maryland.

The flag — which boasts a thin, bright blue stripe — is meant to show support for law enforcement. Many critics, however, closely associate it with white nationalists and those who oppose the Black Lives Matter movement.

In honor of National First Responders Day on Oct. 28, a Germantown man and his son presented a handmade "thin blue line" flag to 5th District police officers. But when officers said they would display the flag at their station, Elrich decided against it — saying it's too divisive of a symbol.

In what seems like a show of defiance for Elrich — and an act of support for police officers — residents in both Montgomery and Harford counties are now flying the "thin blue line" flag outside their businesses and homes.

Mark Reges, owner of the Old Angler's Inn in Potomac, recently bought a similar flag online and hung it below his restaurant sign, WJLA reports.

"For (Marc Elrich) to make a statement like that is an embarrassment to the entire county," Reges told the news outlet. "To tell you the truth, that's why we have the flag."

On social media, county resident Eric Meyers posted a picture of a "thin blue line" flag atop a flagpole in his property, WJLA said.

"Thanks to Erlich (sic) for inspiring me to complete my project and what a better day to do it," Myers wrote. "Thanks to our vets and boys/girls in blue."

In Harford County, community members will be able to pick up free "thin blue line" flags this weekend in Abingdon. The Harford County Deputy Sheriff's Union and two local business owners are giving away the items at the Boulevard at Box Hill.

"It precipitated from the actions of the Montgomery County executive," Harford County Sheriff Foundation President Walter "Butch" Tilley told Patch.

In the wake of Elrich's comments, Tilley said that he and others in Harford County intended to make it clear they disagreed.

"As business owners in Harford County, we wanted to show our support for the men and women in blue and let them know that the actions in Montgomery County certainly don't reflect how we feel and how most Marylanders feel," Tilley said.

Tilley, who owns York Insurance Services on Rock Spring Road in Forest Hill, partnered with Harford County Councilman Tony Giangiordano, who owns AAG Insurance on South Main Street in Bel Air, to buy 1,000 thin blue line flags that they will give away during the "Free Thin Blue Line Flag" event in Abingdon.

"Tony and I purchased the flags together," said Tilley, who noted they are competitors but also friends. Partnering in the thin blue line flag giveaway demonstrated unity, he said, and will "show we as a community could come together (despite) our differences."

Community members aren't the only ones who have criticized Elrich's ban on the homemade "blue line flag."

The move has also generated backlash from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and catapulted the liberal-leaning county into the national spotlight.

On Nov. 3, Hogan took to social media to say he was "offended and disgusted" that Elrich would ban the flag.

In one tweet, the Republican said:

We are proud to hang these Thin Blue Line flags in Government House to honor our brave law enforcement officers. A local elected official prohibiting police from displaying a flag given to them by a grateful child is disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/PmPGzfSSF1
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) November 3, 2019

Elrich has since doubled down on his decision.

Unswayed by the criticism, Elrich told reporters the following day that Hogan should focus on running the state.

"He shouldn't be mucking in it. He ought to be thinking about his own constituents in the state who probably have the same concerns that Montgomery residents have," Elrich said. "Montgomery County is not exactly the hotbed for these tensions in the state. I'm sure that flag wouldn't go over well in other communities."

During his meeting with reporters, Elrich also acknowledged that the boy and his father had "no ill intent" in presenting the gift to officers.

"The problem is that the symbol of the 'thin blue line' flag has been appropriated by Blue Lives Matter and that there are lots of groups in the community — people concerned about Black Lives Matter, people concerned about the levels of violence against black people in this country — who take the Blue Lives Matter flag as an affront and as a flag that represents dismissiveness of Black Lives Matter and their concern over what's happening to black males in this country," Elrich said.