SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone received a photograph over the weekend of a firetruck with the 'thin blue line' flag hanging from the back. The person who sent the image asked Curtatone if this was allowed to be put on display.
The mayor responded that it had been removed and he hopes the firefighters who put it up did not recognize this as a hurtful act.
Thomas Ross, Union President of Somerville Firefighters Local 76, said he believes the flag is misinterpreted.
"I think they misunderstand what the flag represents," Ross said. "The flag does not represent anything against the Black Lives Matter movement, these flags were around long before that. These were meant to honor the police officers who gave the supreme sacrifice, died in the line of duty."
One officer in particular that firefighters are paying tribute to is MIT Officer Sean Collier who was killed during the Boston Bombing Manhunt. He was on his way to joining the Somerville Police Department.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports
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