Lakeside School recently began flying a blue flag on their campus. This "Thin Blue Line" American flag, similar to the Confederate flag, is used to symbolize white supremacy and is typically used to undermine the Black Lives Matter movement. This remix version of the American flag first appeared in 2016 along with the rise of Trumpism and backlash against the Obama-era civil right movements, and is also widely supported by Neo-Natzis.

This "Thin Blue Line" flag is linked to the Blue Lives Matter movement which not only undermines but also aims to invalidate the meaning and importance of the Black Lives Matter movement which is defined as a decentralized movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against African-American people. 

Regardless of the meaning or an individual’s interpretation of the "Thin Blue Line” flag, politics do not belong in schools. Flying such a controversial flag especially in unprecedented times of uncertainty is unambiguously inappropriate and should not be tolerated. 

Sign this petition to get this flag removed or email the Lakeside School District superintendent at tbryson@lakesideusd.org.