Republican Joann Ariola collected 53 of the tribute flags from generous New Yorkers since beginning an online campaign two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
The councilwoman already delivered blue-line flags to five Queens police precincts<\/a> and red-line flags to four Queens firehouses, she told The Post.<\/p>\n \u201cFar left activists are trying to turn the public against our first responders and sow chaos in this city,\u201d said Ariola. \u201cThis campaign is a show of support for our first responders, to let them know that no matter what, the people of this city stand behind them.\u201d<\/p>\n Ariola began her effort two weeks ago, in response to a Post report about an FDNY deputy chief ordering an East Village ladder company to remove a \u201cred line\u201d American flag<\/a> honoring the squad\u2019s six members killed on 9\/11.<\/p>\n The request came after a neighborhood resident called the flag \u201cfascist,\u201d and Councilwoman Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan) questioned whether it was a \u201cpolitically charged symbol.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The department was following a 2020 FDNY rule prohibiting \u201caltered\u201d versions of the American flag on department property, which was implemented under then-Commissioner Daniel Nigro during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests.<\/p>\n News of the flag removal March 22 sparked immediate outrage on social media, and hours later the FDNY reversed the decision.<\/p>\n Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh confirmed to The Post she \u201cunequivocally support[s]\u201d firefighters displaying the tribute flags.<\/p>\n \u201cThe redline flag honors firefighters who lost their lives protecting our city,\u201d she said. \u201cWe appreciate Councilwoman Ariola\u2019s efforts in offering this flag to firehouses who will fly it proudly.\u201d<\/p>\n The Police Department doesn\u2019t have rules prohibiting blue-line flags on NYPD property.<\/p>\n Commanding officers at the 100th<\/sup>, 102nd<\/sup>, 104th<\/sup>, 106th<\/sup>\u00a0and 112th<\/sup>\u00a0precincts in Queens have accepted blue-line flags honoring cops killed or injured in the line of duty, according to Ariola, who plans to expand the giveaway citywide.<\/p>\n Rivera\u00a0<\/strong>previously insisted to The Post she only reached to the FDNY about Ladder Co. 11\u2019s tribute flag because a constituent complained about it and that she has a \u201cstrong\u201d relationship with the firehouse.<\/p>\n However, Rivera has a history of being critical of cops, including voting to defund<\/a> the NYPD by $1 billion in 2020 and routinely ripping police officers that same year during the Black Lives Matters protests.<\/p>\n Rivera did not return messages.<\/p>\n Link to story: https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/04\/27\/us-news\/defying-lefties-nyc-pol-gives-nypd-fdny-flags-honoring-heroes\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Rich Calder<\/p>\n A Queens councilwoman wants to supply all Big Apple firehouses and police precincts with thin \u201cred-line\u201d and \u201cblue-line\u201d American flags in response to leftists claiming\u00a0they\u2019re fascist symbols.<\/a><\/p>\n Republican Joann Ariola collected 53 of the tribute flags from generous New Yorkers since beginning an online campaign two weeks ago.<\/p>\n The councilwoman already delivered blue-line flags to <\/p>\n …<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/joann-ariola\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2024\/07\/Annotation-2024-07-23-103859.png\")
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