BIAS: Politifact, Facebook’s Fact Check Partner, Claims Pro-Police ‘Thin Blue Line’ Flag Is ‘Anti-BLM’

The scrutiny of Facebook and Twitter “fact-checking” organization has been front and center throughout the Trump administration, but Politifact has added fuel to the fire for critics of the genre by claiming it is “partly true” the pro-law enforcement Thin Blue Line flag is anti-Black Lives Matter.

Politifact, a product of The Poynter Institute, declared that the Thin Blue Line flag, which presents as a black and gray American flag with a blue line for one of the stripes, is also a flag that represents an anti-Black Lives Matter sentiment.

Wtf?—@PolitiFact rates it “mostly true” that the pro-police thin blue line flag is actually an “anti-Black Lives Matter” flag. pic.twitter.com/E0Y9qk5VOL

— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) October 30, 2020

The Thin Blue Line USA website states, “The thin blue line flag is flown to show support for our heroes in law enforcement and serves as a consoling reminder they will always be there to protect us…For those who walk it, the thin blue line is a reflection of courage, a pledge of brotherhood and a tribute to those who have fallen in the line of duty.”

The pro-law enforcement and First Responder flag was displayed behind President Trump at a campaign rally in Wisconsin earlier this month. The presence of the flag prompted Jeff Sharlet, a “professor in the art of writing” at Dartmouth College, to declare it was intended to reject Black Lives Matter.

Tonight in Wisconsin. First the anti-Black Lives Matter flag flew outside his rallies, then beside the American flag. Now it has replaced the American flag. That’s significant. pic.twitter.com/1IXgo06A3C

— Jeff Sharlet (@JeffSharlet) October 25, 2020

Thin Blue Line USA president Andrew Jacob said, “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry. It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement, no politics involved.” Jacob told The Marshall Project, a non-profit focused on the criminal justice system, that the Thin Blue Line flag has zero to do with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Nevertheless, Politifact decided to redefine the genesis and the meaning of the flag stating, “the Thin Blue Line flag has become a prominent part of the pro-police Blue Lives Matter movement – which arose to counter the Black Lives Matter movement.”

Politifact is partnered with Facebook and provides fact check for content posted to the big tech social media network.