Turnpike Authority Suspends Flag Ban On Woodbridge Overpass

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — There was a public outcry after the New Jersey Turnpike Authority said no flags, including American flags, could fly on the Port Reading/Sewaren bridge over the New Jersey Turnpike.

However, Gov. Phil Murphy said he called the Turnpike Authority Tuesday morning and the flags can now remain.

"The Turnpike Authority was raised in an interview I did this morning. I didn't like what I heard," said Murphy in his Tuesday afternoon COVID press conference. "We are the greatest nation on earth, even though we are far from perfect, and our flag represents that nation. And after I got off the call, we spoke to the team and at least for the time being, the Turnpike Authority has suspended doing that, until we find a good way forward."

"I think we should be proud of our flag even though we have a long way to go to perfect our union. I stand with the flag," the governor continued. "So, they've suspended that for the time being until we can find a good way forward."

The flags first started being placed on the bridge immediately after Sept. 11, 2001. The collection of about 60 flags are mostly American and POW flags, but in the past they have also included the yellow "Don't Tread On Me" flag and the "Thin Blue Line" flag that shows support for police officers.

This year, both the Turnpike Authority and the town of Woodbridge received complaints about the thin blue line flag, coupled with a movement to remove the thin blue line that runs down the center of Main Street in Woodbridge (the line is still in place and was repainted teal last week in honor of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month).

"We removed them not to disrespect anyone," said local Woodbridge veteran Mark Tolley, of the blue line flag. His group removed the "Don't Tread On Me" flag, as well.

But the New Jersey Turnpike Authority decided to remove all the flags this summer, even the American flags, saying they are a "distraction" to drivers whizzing by on the Turnpike below, according to reports.

After the Turnpike Authority took them all down, hundreds of people, many of them veterans, rallied on the Woodbridge overpass Sunday.

State senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, both Republicans of Monmouth, introduced legislation this week that would "permit the American flag to be attached to a highway overpass or any other state-owned property so long as it is safely secure and respectfully maintained."

“We are deeply saddened to learn that the Turnpike Authority would choose to remove dozens of American flags under the guise of a regulation for advertising material — it is unpatriotic and completely unacceptable,” said O’Scanlon.

Watch Murphy say this; he speaks about the Woodbridge bridge at about the 18-minute mark:

Tolley said this to FOX News, which covered Sunday's rally: "It is absolutely not a distraction. There's never been an issue before for the past twenty years," Tolley said. "They (the NJ Turnpike Authority) claim that they've received complaints: (The flags) are unsafe; they are not secured properly. They've given numerous reasons why they want to move them and it's a shame they do it at this time, right before Sept. 11. It's America. You should be able to display American flags."

"I served, I'm very patriotic. This whole community supports law enforcement and veterans," Tolley said. "The flags should be up."

"I believe there are certain groups that are anti-police," he continued. "They want to defund the police and they made complaints, and the Turnpike Authority listened to them."

The NJ Turnpike Authority did not return a Patch request for comment.

Related: Amid Dueling Petitions, Woodbridge's Thin Blue Line To Remain (July 8)

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