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Ladder Firm 11 within the East Village was requested to take away its “purple line” American flag after a neighborhood resident complained that it was “fascist” and an area politician questioned whether or not it was “political.” “Formally imposed image”.
Ladder Firm 11 misplaced six of its brothers killed in 9/11 and this flag is in reminiscence and honor of those that fell.
Based on The New York Submit, a person claiming to be from the workplace of Democratic Manhattan Councilwoman Carlina Rivera approached the firehouse and stated that the councilwoman's workplace had “complained” to the FDNY three days earlier in regards to the flag.
He then referred to as it a “fascist image” and demanded to know why it was not eliminated.
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In an e mail to FDNY Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Madison Hernandez on March 19, Rivera staffer Lysander Rosario stated the councilwoman's workplace was contacted twice by “constituents” in regards to the ladder firm flag and requested. Is that this violating the principles of the division?
“(FDNY workers) claimed it was to honor deceased firefighters, nonetheless, (constituents) stated they might have used the FDNY flag as an alternative of a politically charged image,” Rosario wrote.
“It’s each their and our understanding that private political symbols are usually not allowed to be displayed on public automobiles.”
“Are you able to affirm there are any offending flags/symbols on Stairway 11?” Added the e-mail, which was obtained by The Submit.
Hours after the “constituents” left the firehouse, FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Schiralli met with firefighters there and reluctantly stated that the flag ought to be taken off the hearth vans as a result of it violated the division's prohibition of “altered” variations of the American flag. Have carried out.
NEW: FDNY firefighters pressured to take away “Crimson Line” flags hung from hearth vans in reminiscence of their fallen brothers in 9/11
A politician in Alphabet Metropolis got here to the hearth home and confronted NY's Bravest for conserving the flag on his rig, saying, “Isn't {that a} flag in assist of…?” pic.twitter.com/u0fXSAPy2k
– DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) 22 March 2024
After intense public backlash, Laura Commissioner Kavanaugh and division head John Hodgens reversed the choice.
Councilwoman Rivera emphasised to The Submit that her workplace by no means contacted Ladder Firm 11 in regards to the subject and that the preliminary criticism got here from a constituent, not an worker.
The flag is flying above a plaque honoring the fallen brothers of the firehouse.
