[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THIN BLUE LINE MASK

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, this last week, a 13-year-old young man 
was verbally berated in his school classroom in Grass Valley, 
California, in my district, by a substitute math teacher, all because 
he was wearing a mask that had the thin blue line on it, which is known 
all over the country and internationally as being the one symbol that 
supports law enforcement.
  The flag--it is an American flag adapted to that--is a sign that just 
shows support for our law enforcement, who we know protect us from 
chaos and anarchy, and they help uphold ideals of justice, freedom, 
bravery, and solidarity.
  The boy's father and stepmother are members of law enforcement, so it 
is natural that he would be wearing that mask, not only in general for 
law enforcement but for his parents. Then we have a grown adult in a 
classroom setting who attacks this boy because he says he wants to 
compare this to the new Confederate flag. It is ridiculous. He berated 
a child.
  We are all raised to respect law enforcement, and this is what is 
going on in the classroom. I commend the school district for not 
bringing that substitute teacher back anymore.
  Hang in there young man and your parents.

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