There are new lawn signs sprouting up around Barrington, but they do not promote a candidate.

Created by the Barrington United Veterans Council, the signs share this message: "Keep Politics off the Pole." And they are directed at the town manager, Jim Cunha, and members of the Barrington Town Council who support the flying of the Black Lives Matter flag on the town hall flag pole located at the veterans memorial. Members of the Barrington UVC have said that the Black Lives Matter flag should not be flown above the veterans memorial or share same flag pole as the US flag. They said other East Bay towns have adopted flag flying policies and Barrington should do the same.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Paul Dulchinos is the president of the Barrington United Veterans Council and came up with the idea of making the "Keep Politics off the Pole" signs.

Mr. Dulchinos said the Barrington United Veterans Council is frustrated by the town council's actions and, more recently, lack of acknowledgement of the veterans group's message. The Barrington UVC held a rally in front of the town hall on Monday afternoon, Oct. 5, about two hours prior to the council meeting, but the rally was ignored by local officials, Mr. Dulchinos said.

"Amazingly, the town council meeting did not acknowledge it occurring," Mr. Dulchinos wrote in a recent email to the Barrington Times.

"I don't think anyone has the courage on the council to speak up," he said during an interview.

Mr. Dulchinos said the use of the term "Black Lives Matter" was very clever: "How can anyone be against that?" he said. 'But it's being exploited."

He said town officials need to acknowledge that the term cannot be separated from the political movement behind it.

"It's like they're ignoring our rights in favor of another group's rights. Your rights don't trump my rights, especially when I went to war to defend yours," Mr. Dulchinos said.

In an email, Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll offered his opinion regarding the Black Lives Matter flag.

"I think some of our folks, including some on the UVC, look at the Black Live's Matter flag as a political statement and/or an endorsement of some organization. I don't," Mr. Carroll wrote. "I think it is simply a statement that the people of this community believe that Black Lives Matter.   

"It has been both heartwarming and a bit dispiriting to hear from people grateful for the flying of the BLM flag and for the BLM vigils our faith communities sponsor each month (the UCC Mission and Justice Ministry, Temple Habonim, and others). I'm certainly pleased to learn that our community's actions are received with gratitude by minority communities. On the other hand, it is depressing to think that in 2020, making the statement that Black Lives Matter is considered a bold or courageous action when it is probably the very least we can do."

Mr. Carroll said the Black Lives Matter flag flying on the town hall pole has made a positive impact for some people.

"Last week we heard from a gentleman who is moving to Rhode Island and who had originally dismissed moving to Barrington for fear of discrimination -- he is Sri Lankin. He wrote that our town manager's action in flying the BLM flag has 'changed my perspective of the town' and he and his family are now considering Barrington as a place to raise their little girls," Mr. Carroll wrote.

"Our goal is to make Barrington a more welcoming, a more accepting, a more diverse community. I still believe the place where the town council and town administration can have the largest impact is in the areas of hiring, housing and policing. But I had underestimated the impact of symbolic gestures in moving us toward that goal."

Mr. Dulchinos said he and other members of the Barrington UVC would like to spend some time talking about the issue with members of the town council. He said none of the councilors has reached out to him.

"I think the only dialogue I had was with an email exchange with the town manager," Mr. Dulchinos said, adding that Mr. Cunha has made it clear he supports the flying of the Black Lives Matter flag. He said Mr. Cunha's salary is approved by the council and it would be difficult for him to go against the council's wishes.

"He's savvy," Mr. Dulchinos said.

Mr. Dulchinos said he believes the town council is opening itself up to legal repercussions with its decision to fly the Black Lives Matter flag and not draft a policy.

"It's funny how liberals today don't see things in both directions," he said. "Certain groups of people are protected and others are not."

Local veterans draft petition

The Barrington United Veterans Council has created an online petition calling for only certain flags to be allowed to fly on the under the US flag on town property.

The petition is asking that the Barrington Town Council adopt "an apolitical flag policy" ensuring that only the Rhode Island state flag, Town of Barrington flag and POW/MIA flag be flown under the US flag on town property.

"The Barrington United Veterans Council needs your help. Our American Flag is under attack," states the petition. "The Town Council recently allowed the flying of controversial and divisive political banners under the US Flag over the very hallowed grounds of our Barrington Veterans Memorial. The United Veterans Council believes that 'there is only one flag that represents all the people of this community' and that is the flag of the United States of America. The US Flag should be flown devoid of symbols of partisan rancor and free from banners linked to organizations with extreme ideological beliefs."

Ceremony to be moved

Mr. Dulchinos said that he expects the annual Veterans Day ceremony, held normally at the veterans memorial outside Barrington Town Hall, will be moved this year. He said local veterans do not want to hold the ceremony at the memorial while the Black Lives Matter flag flies overhead; the town hall flag pole is located at the veterans memorial. Mr. Dulchinos said the Veterans Day event will likely be moved to Victory Gate at the high school.