Hingham residents and dozens of people from surrounding towns stood in front of Town Hall after controversy around the “Thin Blue Line” flag.
After a resident complaint, the Hingham Fire Department was ordered by town officials to remove the thin blue line flags from fire apparatus. Fire Chief Steve Murphy and Police Chief Glenn Olsson said in a joint letter the flags were political in nature, and violated town policy.
The Hingham Firefighters Union refused to take down the flags, saying in a statement:
“The flags were recently put on the apparatus leading up to the anniversary of the senseless murder of officer Michael Chesna in our neighboring community of Weymouth. We continued to fly the flags after the anniversary in support of the law enforcement officers in our own community, as well as all law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day. At no time was this meant to be a political statement in any way. Nor was it an attempt to show support for, or against, any specific political party or advocacy group.”
Chesna was killed while on duty in July of 2018. Emmanuel Lopes is charged with the murders of Chesna and 77-year-old Weymouth resident Vera Adams. Not guilty pleas were entered to all charges.
Hingham resident Heather Hedlund wrote a letter in opposition to the removal. After attending a Back the Blue rally in Marshfield, she worked with organizers to set up a standout in front of Town Hall.
“I don’t understand it, because that flag was specifically put there on the anniversary of Sergeant Chesna’s death. I feel like the flag is being hijacked in a way to stand for things against Black Lives Matter,” said Hedlund. “That’s certainly not what the intention was or is, and never has been. It’s to show support for local police, law enforcement, and especially to honor Sergeant Chesna’s anniversary.”
Dozens of people lined the sidewalk in front of Town Hall with thin blue line flags and with signs for America Backs the Blue. Across the street stood supporters of Black Lives Matter.
Weymouth and Hingham firefighters posed for a picture together with blue line flags. A Hingham FD Quint engine drove by with the thin blue line flag on the back.
Charles Chesna, the father of Sgt. Chesna, disagreed with the flag being political.
“It’s for the fallen officers, it’s for the fire, it’s for EMTs. It’s not political, it’s an honor for them. It’s a way to show respect for them, and that’s what we want,” said Chesna. “Once they get killed, you don’t want to forget them. You want to show respect and love them.
“We’ll never forget him. We’ll never forget my son, that’s the thing. I wait for him to walk through the door and he doesn’t,” said Chesna. “Christmas, I wish nobody would have to go through something like this. It’s not over yet for us. We still have court, two years, nothing. Hopefully it will be soon.”
During the standout, Black Lives Matter supporters and supporters from America Backs the Blue got into tense verbal arguments. Tru Edwards of Roxbury says that there’s no outrage, nothing happens when Black lives are taken.
She held a sign that read “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
Hingham and Weymouth firefighters gathered with thin blue line flags. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Kathleen Lincoln of Hingham stood with a thin blue line flag outside of Hingham Town Hall. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
A few supporters of Black Lives Matter gathered across the street. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
After tense verbal exchanges from both sides, Tru Edwards of Roxbury talks with a back the blue supporter at Town Hall. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
