Online Petitions Duel Over Pro-Police Blue Line In Marlboro

MARLBORO, NJ – Two petitions regarding the pro-law enforcement blue stripe in Marlboro have recently sparked controversy online: the original petition, which surfaced five days ago on Change.org, advocates for the removal of the blue line in front of the Marlboro police department. An opposing petition asks that the line not only be preserved, but also repainted.

The line has stood between Town Hall and the Marlboro Police Department since 2016, when mayor Jonathan Hornik first unveiled the symbol as a gesture of solidarity between law enforcement and the community. The blue line in Marlboro is meant to show local appreciation for police officers and emergency responders, according to a release from the ceremony.

The advocate behind the initiative for the line’s removal, Claire Wang, addressed her petition to Mayor Hornik and the Marlboro Township Council on July 19. In the body of the petition, which has amassed 574 signatures, Wang requests the removal of the blue line symbol to usher “the first step to creating a better community”.

“If the people of Marlboro oppose racism and value diversity, inclusion, and equity, we should prove it by removing this offensive symbol from our streets,” the petition reads.

The blue line symbol has been used in several communities nationwide to show support for local law enforcement. But while the line's meaning has been interpreted by some as the ability for police officers to separate good from bad, critics of the symbol have said that the line represents an "us vs. them" dynamic that furthers tensions between police and citizens.

“Even if the blue line were not racist, it promotes an “us vs. them” mindset that divides police and civilians, treating them as a “potential enemy” instead of the people whom officers are supposed to protect,” the petition continues. “If the people of Marlboro oppose racism and value diversity, inclusion, and equity, we should prove it by removing this offensive symbol from our streets.”

Two days later, the opposing petition surfaced, quickly amassing over 2,000 signatures in three days. The individual who created the petition, Julie Tro, calls for not only the preservation of the symbol, but a renovation of the line as well.

“Marlboro currently has a blue line in support of Law Enforcement at the entrance of the police dept,” the petition reads. “Some are asking for it [to] be removed. Please sign the Petition requesting Marlboro not only keep the existing line but also repaint it. Private donors will pay for the paint and the man hours to complete the task.”

Similar petitions have been set up to take down the blue line on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel and Kings Highway in Middletown. The petitions have amassed over 1,330 and 1,025 signatures respectively.

Have a news tip? Email nicole.rosenthal@patch.com.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app, download here. Follow Marlboro Patch on Facebook.