Quiring’s comment came as the council approved, in a 4-1 vote during the weekly council time meeting, a letter supporting Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins’ decision to ban “Thin Blue Line” flag stickers, pins and other decorations from sheriff’s office vehicles, offices and staff uniforms. (Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain also announced last week that he ordered none of those symbols to be worn by police employees or displayed in or on city property.)
Once intended to support law enforcement and family of officers killed in the line of duty, the iconography has become a source of controversy due to a perceived overlap with “Blue Lives Matter,” a phrase that emerged in response to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Atkins discussed the decision during a virtual Juneteenth celebration hosted by the Vancouver NAACP.
Quiring called the sheriff’s decision “disturbing,” and refused to sign the council’s letter.
LULAC said that Quiring sharing her thoughts in a public setting and official capacity gave the organization “no choice but to join the effort to recall her and demand her resignation.”
The organization challenged Quiring to become educated on racism, and examine her own privilege and racial bias.
But in the meantime, “We urge you to step down to make way for a leader with the depth and desire to make our county a safe and welcoming place for all,” the letter concludes.