A woman in Florida has been told to take down her “Blue Lives Matter” flag because a neighbor found it to be “racist” and “offensive.”
Jeff Gaddie, a police officer, told WJAX-TV that her daughter has flown the flag outside her house in St. John’s County “for years” in his honor. But Gaddie’s daughter recently received a letter from her homeowner’s association, saying the flag does not comply with association rules.
When Gaddie’s daughter asked the homeowners association why her flag needed to come down, she was told the organization received a complaint that the flag was “racist, offensive and anti-Black Lives Matter.”
Gaddie’s daughter was told she needed to fill out a form for permission to fly the flag, but her request was denied.
According to WJAX, only American flags and US military flags are permitted to fly in the neighborhood. The “Blue Lives Matter” flag follows the template of the American flag, but is rendered in black-and-white with one blue stripe.
This flag is causing controversy in one SJC neighborhood. Homeowner being asked to take it down, neighbor complained to HOA @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/Q5rEWNKh5h
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) March 21, 2017
Gaddie’s daughter is appealing the homeowner association’s decision.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
