Garden State Equality Flag
This is the flag flown by Ocean Grove United. It is also referred to as an equality flag and has its origins with the Human Rights Campaign. This is the most common equality flag flown in Ocean Grove
TO THE EDITOR:
Paul, we had a knock on our door last night from the Neptune Police Department. Detective Christine Savage was following up on my calling to report our equality flag being stolen from our porch. Detective Savage mentioned there had been 3 reported stolen and one other that did not call the theft in, or a total of 4 equality flags stolen.
We spent quite a bit of time reviewing the fact that someone had to actually come on to our porch to remove the flag.
We felt very violated by this, and Detective Savage said there would be unmarked cars patrolling the Abbott, Webb, and Heck ave areas where the thefts had taken place.
If this is not a bias crime, I don’t know what is.
Recommendations were porch lights, cameras, and security systems— not lovable little dogs that wag their tails when strangers come on the porch.
Please post this so folks can take precautions.
Thank you, Neptune Township Police Department.
TED AANENSEN
Ocean Grove, N.J., Jul. 16, 2013
The writer is a long-time resident of the Grove. He is the president of the Auditorium Choir and a a member of the Blogfinger photography staff.
Paul,
My answer was based on your “Perhaps”.
I agree with GOSH…I fly the American flag and my Italian flag below it, and the American flag is larger. I feel if you fly any flag there should be the American flag first, then whatever.
If flying the equal flag makes you happy then do it. But don’t expect others to feel the same way; actually you’re looking to be different then others.
Maybe we should fly the ( + ) flag.
I always thought that we are all created equal. My opinion is if you want to be a part of society then why do you want to stand out. Maybe the heterosexuals should have a flag with a ( + ) in the middle.
When i first moved into OG, I thought they were some kind of weird local way to denote block captains for the neighborhood watch.
And I back Waterseller; people will take just about anything not nailed down.
Bythesea: In my experience in law enforcement, I found that people would steal a hot stove if they had the chance— anything that can be exchanged for coin of the realm, regardless of the effort or reward.
I am assuming that this is just blatant low-end theft or vandalism but I intend to put my equality flag out showing support of what these flags represent—equality for all. This lawn/porch ornament theft stuff has been going on for over a year now. I think it is time to finally catch the thieves.
If this were just thievery, they would take something that could at least be sold for scrap. They appear to be expressing an opinion about which they are too cowardly to confront homeowners in the daytime.
Just a note of clarification, all the flags reported stolen in the last week were “Equality” flags and whoever took my Equality flag left my American flag still flying. Ted
Paul, then the message is one of bias.
Equality flags can be purchased at Seasons on Main Ave.
Editor’s Note: Hobe, I said “perhaps.” —Paul
Perhaps they are sending a message that is worth more to them than the actual flag?
Makes me want to fly an equality flag. Any place local where I can get one?
I’m with “cujosmom”——-can’t we just call it what it is, theft..
The issue is not what was on the flag so much as the fact that someone is coming onto porches and stealing stuff. What I don’t get is the motivation for stealing a lawn ornaments, flower pots, or flags. These things have de minimus value, yet they require committing a crime, risk of being caught in the act, time spent traversing to the site of the theft, trespassing, etc. to acquire. What are people thinking?
If these were stolen white ‘Christian’ flags, or lets say, Jewish door mezuzahs, would we even be having this conversation about whether its a bias crime or not?
Rich: I have posted two equality flags, but the lower one is the kind usually seen in Ocean Grove. It is a design that originated with the Human Rights Campaign.
You can check the Ocean Grove United web site for more information: http://www.oceangroveunited.org and you can look up Garden State Equality—a state wide organization. You can also go to the Human Rights Campaign (www.HRC.org)
The only real solution is to get cameras, If Ted had cameras, he would at least know what the person looked like who took his flag. Probably, however, if he had cameras, no one would have come on his porch to begin with.
I’ve had many items taken from my property including lawn ornaments, cement ornaments,an angel attached to my arbor in the Garden. Across from my home you can’t imagine items stolen from there including a fossil from thousands of years ago donated to the Garden it weighed over 70 pounds and they took it.
Nobody should have items stolen from their home regardless of what it is; there has to be greater attention given to securing our items to keep them from being taken. I would rather fly the American flag before any other flag. I’m an American first.
All my expensive garden items are now secured in 80 pounds of concrete in the ground, lots of luck.
What is an equality flag?
If you really want more information, call the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. To be a bias crime you must first be sure that no other kinds of flags have been stolen. Adding bias crime to a minor charge of stealing a flag can upgrade the charge to a more serious level, but first you need to catch somebody.
Add Mt. Carmel Way to the list of theft locations. I will be reporting the “disappearance” tomorrow at the urging of OGU.
Pretty low, not sure if I’d call it a bias crime, it is more on the level of stealing campaign signs I would think! Anyway, I hope they catch the person!
My first thoughts on this were it was all the kids in the neighborhood…Stealing the flags…We have more Tweens and Teens now in the Grove then we have had in many many years…Just a thought…I remember when I was a kid (cough choak) we would ring door bells and think that was funny…Now with the internet …Who knows what is in their minds these days! I by all means am not trying to make light of the situation….but why steel flags…?
I’m not sure how to look back in this Blog, but did this not also happen last year about this time? I believe the Equality flags were found abandoned somewhere in town. Could it be the same people doing this? Coming up on someone’s porch is a real violation.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Last summer we reported on some thefts of equality flags in the Grove. Here is the link: http://blogfinger.net/2012/08/20/equality-flags-stolen/