KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
In the face of a social media storm that has become a topic of the national conversation, the mother of a Saugus High School football player who has carried a “thin blue line” flag to honor law enforcement spoke out on Friday.
As the mother of a 16-year-old student on the Saugus High School football team, Lexi Hawk supports her son’s decision to carry a “thin blue line” flag to honor law enforcement, not only for the work they do in our Santa Clarita Valley, but as a nod to her own upbringing.
Hawk’s mother was a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), while her stepfather served on the same force for 30 years. Additionally, the family remains close with current members of law enforcement.
“We know personally three or four officers who ran onto Saugus campus (in 2019), so it’s near and dear to our hearts,” Hawk said.
Traditionally the Saugus football team makes their entrance before games by running onto the field carrying flags, including the U.S. Flag and Centurion flags. This year, the “thin blue line” flag, which is a variation of the U.S. Flag in support of law enforcement also made its appearance.
For the first few weeks, another player carried the “thin blue line” flag onto the field, before Hawk’s son, Wyatt, took up the banner.
However, due to backlash stemming from social media, officials with the William S. Hart Union High School District and Saugus High School banned the appearance of the “thin blue line” flag at football games in the seventh week of the season.
“Given that some individuals have expressed concern that they interpret the Thin Blue Line flag to be divisive, it occurred to (the coach) that it’s possible that some players on the team might not be entirely enthusiastic about a symbol that is being used to represent the entire team,” said Hart District Superintendent Mike Kuhlman in a previous story. “In deference to his commitment to inclusivity, kindness and respect just loving people, and because the team never voted as a unit to carry this banner, Coach decided to discontinue this practice.”
Hawk and her family were surprised by the decision, as it was made without any discussion or even forewarning for the boys on the Saugus football team, especially so far into the season.
In addition, Hawk noted that some critics on social media have stated that the “thin blue line” flag only started to be carried during the 2022 season and was purely because of the Saugus High School Shooting in 2019, which she states is untrue.
2017 photo of Wyatt Hawk carrying a Thin Blue Line Flag
Hawk’s son has been carrying a “thin blue line” flag since his days of playing youth football, starting in 2016, and only pausing when the actual sport was prevented from play due to coronavirus in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, according to Hawk.
Hawk noted that the main issue that frustrated her the most was that complaints about the flag were never brought to the team or even to her son; it went directly from social media to Saugus High School and the William. S Hart High School District.
“There was not even an offer to open discussion. You’re not going to agree with everyone or agree with everyone’s beliefs, that’s just now how it works, but there should have been an opportunity to open an adult conversation,” Hawk said.
Lexi Hawk with Politics and the Pulpit host Pastor Jerry Cook
Hawk is very proud of how her son, currently in 11th grade, has handled the situation, as he has expressed his frustration with how the issue has progressed
“He’s very easygoing, but he has expressed frustration, asking, ‘why didn’t they bring it up before the seventh week’ and why didn’t they approach him to talk about it,” Hawk said.
On Friday night, Hawk and other supports plan to respect the decision made by the Hart District and Saugus High School by not carrying blue line flags at the Saugus High School v. Hart High School game. However, they will be wearing clothing depicting the flags as a show of support for law enforcement and the boys on the Saugus Football team who had wanted to carry the flag.
“I want everyone to keep the subject of focus on the boys,” Hawk said. “We can respect law enforcement and honor them, but the priority is the boys, and them having the best game and the best experience possible.”
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The person who complained doesn’t even have a child on the team or at SHS or reside in SCV. Our Hart representatives shouldn’t be bowing down to people who are not even in our community. Let alone have a student at our school. Let the trolls cry all they want, leave the kids alone. Our community supports law enforcement.
Why is this even necessary. Do we have to make sure every flag and opinion is represented at high school games now? Can’t things just be what they are without agendas. I’m sure kids could care less about this nonsense, they are just there to play sports.
The Thin Blue Line flag can hang on the front porch.
Let the players and crowd focus on the game.
The players have worked hard.
Do you have a kid in that school?
What is your vested interest in this?
What gives you the right to be so opinionated about high school football and carried flags?
I, personally, object to the Blue Pancake Flag. It does not color coordinate with with the green turf.
Ann, you have no right or reason to sit at home and pontificate about a flag carried on the field of a high school football game.
You are what is wrong with America when Leftist ideas get pushed in public, by anti-cop arm-chair Looney Liberal Leftists seek to restrict public behavior. The Spanish civil war was started by Leftist opinions, elected, and shooting up churches and killing priests. Is that what you want to do in the name of Tax-Funded socialism?
Leave the kids alone!
Ann, YOU do not sit and pass judgement on your peers, let alone someone else’s kids.
This is silly. Are we allowed to support everything else except police. I support those who protect us.
If there comes a school emergency, make sure to call BLM or Woke advocates.
Better yet defund school leaders.
Don’t trouble the LASD, LAPD or CHP.
Ann, you can hang yourself on your your front porch.
It is someone carrying a flag. That is all. Oklahoma U. has a different flag for every letter. Why is that even worth adult attention. You got your Rainbow flag all over. You are really anti-cop!
If it is not on uniforms, the football or playing field, Who Cares?
This is LiberalRetarded outsiders pontificating aligning reality to what they personally think is appropriate.
[YELLOW FLAG] Illegal Donkey Pox infection psychiatric-sociopathic biomass behavioral disorder. All the distance to Hell.
Well, this certainly has got YOUR attention. But who cares what you say, tagger?
DummySSE is a liberaltard troll.
“starting in 2016, and only pausing when the actual sport was prevented from play due to coronavirus in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, according to Hawk.”
Not true. While it doesn’t help her argument, the team played in 2021.
I’m not anti-cop at all. I thought that the players were getting overshadowed by all the discussion.
You’re saying it’s liberals, but it seems many people don’t like the various alterations to the American flag.
The photo with this article shows the flag on the field, right?
I’m not all worked up, I’m baking a pie right now.
I, personally do not care what you feel, or do.
You don’t play high school football.
You and the rest of the Leftists stuck your nose and fingers where they have no place.
You are trying to tell someone else’s kids what they can and cannot do, at a school sporting event. That is inappropriate and opinionated. You do THAT without getting worked up? Close your windows, turn off the TV, close the curtains, and sit there quietly until I send for you.
Add another 2 cups to sugar to your Lemon Meringue Pucker Face Pie.
This whole flag issue is embarrassing. I was had kohlman as your principal at Canyon High. I just can’t imagine that Anyone would cower down to this. Get a grip people and fight for what is right. This is not it
I had no part in this, was reacting to what I read.
That’s what the comments section is for.
Go react somewhere else, and leave the kids alone.
Do you play high school football, Dennis?
Yes, I Did.
At a Catholic Prep School.
We had Flags, too.
You didn’t learn to love thy neighbor, you’re pretty mean.
We were big on bible study: eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, turn the other cheek (and pass gas). Especially, if some rat bag old lady wants to tell us what to do.
How Catholic/Christian of you! Gross.
Where in the bible does it say LE (or Roman) flags are evil? Render unto Caesar what is Caesars.”
Where does it give opinionated busy bodies the right to tell someone else’s kids what to do?
YOU are casting the first stone from your porch, and never even had a CLUE.
We also did not get worked up and start interfering with other schools flags or mascots (except Servite HS).
Interfering? Huh? I stated that the whole blow-up by some of the parents was distracting from the players & their game. They interfered. I didn’t. I was thinking of those hours of practice that deserve to culminate in an anticipated football game. In the Signal article, some students wished politics was not brought in.
They are just bullies!
S.T.F.U.
Go make your comments in the LLLLLCCP Bee Rag
YOU ARE NOT A STAKEHOLDER IN THIS MATTER.
I find it incredibly stupid that someone is offended by a simple flag. Did anyone say who the dude is?
I’ll bet he has a man bun
KHTS, Where is my comment of last eve?
Summers Eve comments get Round filed.
Ok. Pro Life flags will be at games, along with NRA flags and MAGA flags and Black Lives Matter flags, since the students should be allowed to do whatever they want at a school function, according to you. Got it.
Just trying to make a point, not suggesting anyone really bring those flags. It wouldn’t be a good idea.
Arn. You sound more inte)igent when you are silent. HTH
The thin blue line on the American flag is a positive thing, supporting & proud of America & LE—-a vanishing & old fashioned traditional values thing! The CRT/BLM/Liberal propagandist’s don’t like that!