Eureka firefighter challenges city, thinks Black Lives Matter pin on his uniform will make a difference in community relations..
A white firefighter in Eureka, California filed a grievance through his union after he was asked to remove a Black Lives Matter pin from his uniform. According to Matt McFarland, he had been wearing the pin while on duty since November. He was ordered to remove it by Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills, after he spotted the pin during the visit — citing official uniform policy that states one pin can be worn that is fire service related and in good taste. McFarland argued that the Black Lives Matter movement directly relates to being a firefighter since black citizens need to be able to trust first responders.
A Change.org petition — created by McFarland’s wife Tamara — began circulating, calling on the Fire Chief and Joint Powers Authority Board to allow McFarland to wear his pin on duty. According to her, “In wearing his Black Lives Matter lapel pin, Mr. McFarland quietly seeks to communicate that any Black person or person of color in crises in Eureka will be safe and respected during their Humboldt Bay Fire response.” The petition goes on to refer to the Black Lives Matter Movement as “one of the most important civil and human rights efforts of this century.”
Nevertheless, McFarland’s grievance hearing before the Humboldt Bay Fire Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors did not go as he hoped. The board upheld the decision made by Police Chief Andy Mills, after a hearing that lasted for five hours. McFarland attempted to argue that Black Lives Matter is not a political movement and there shouldn’t be anything controversial about showing support by wearing the pin on his uniform.
He also said that he wants everyone to feel comfortable approaching him while on duty. However, if certain citizens distrust public servants based upon the uniform they are wearing, it’s hard to rationalize that a lapel pin is going to change that. In fact, the pin wouldn’t even be visible from a distance. The notion that echoing the political views of a social movement is doing a service to a community is far-fetched.
I would also venture to say that Black Lives Matter is not a civil rights movement. They routinely hold public gatherings while making it a point to announce that only black people are allowed to attend. Never mind their so-called allies.
Allowing political statements to be displayed on uniforms opens the door for either end of the spectrum to be represented. Where does the line get drawn? If it’s acceptable for Black Lives Matter pins to be worn on duty, Police Lives Matter pins should also be allowed. It’s important to consider the uprising that could occur if uniformed public workers began wearing their politics on their sleeves, so to speak.
I have personally never felt the need to ask what a first responder’s political beliefs are before I recognized that I would be safe calling that person. While it’s great that McFarland wants to support minority groups, the distinction has been made that politics should not be allowed on the job.
