San Francisco Sheriff's Office says they only salute the American flag after viral Pride flag raising video
San Francisco first responders saluted LGBTQ flag in video ripped by conservatives on social media
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A video of San Francisco first responders saluting a "Progress Pride" flag while in uniform went viral on Thursday.
The SF Sheriff's Office posted a video on social media of their third annual Pride flag-raising ceremony on Monday. This year, law enforcement chose to fly the Progress variation of the Pride flag.
Uniformed officers from the Sheriff, Police and Fire Departments are seen in the video solemnly saluting the LGBTQ flag after an officer raises it above a county jail. The text, "A call for unity, visibility, equality," appears on-screen in front of a rainbow uniform patch. Another officer wears a rainbow hat.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A tweet from a conservative account that shared the video and described it as "disgusting" gained over 2 million views by Thursday, as replies poured in criticizing law enforcement for the political display.
"Not only our enemies are laughing at us, but so is every law-enforcement agency around the country - looking at this in shame and disgust," Bernard B. Kerik, 40th Police Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, said in response. "This is why San Francisco has been taken over by thugs and drug addicts, and turned into a cesspool."
The San Francisco Sheriff's Office raised a Progress Pride flag this week garnering criticism online. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Progress Pride flag adds racial and transgender elements to the regular rainbow flag. The black and brown stripes represent people of color, and the blue, pink and white stripes represent the transgender flag.
Sheriff Paul M. Miyamoto told The Bay Area Reporter that they raised this version of the rainbow flag to reflect "the diversity and inclusivity of our community."
Miyamoto called LGBTQ Pride one of the law enforcement department's "core values."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Pride in our core values is not just to share what we do, or how we do it, but who we are," Miyamoto said. "Let's always remember we are representing our community and serving our community in all that we do."
Fox News Digital contacted the SF Sheriff's Office for comment.
"The only flag we salute and wear on our uniform is the American flag. The core values of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office are service, professionalism and pride," the sheriff's office told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We take pride in our commitment to service, and in our deputies who reflect the diversity of the city in which we serve. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric does nothing but propagate more hate and undermine our commitment to inclusivity. We will continue to raise the Rainbow flag at our County Jail each year as a way to support and amplify the voices of our LGBTQ+ members."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A San Francisco police vehicle during a Pride parade event. (San Francisco Police Department)
Last year the Sheriff's Office put out a video showcasing several officers who identified as transgender, queer or gay.
In the video, the law enforcement office explains how they fought to keep marching in the city's annual Pride Parade while dressed in uniform.
San Francisco Pride parade organizers barred officers from wearing uniforms last year, saying that some in the community who've had negative experiences with law enforcement would be uncomfortable.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Parade organizers implemented the uniform ban in 2020 following a confrontation at the 2019 event when protesters blocked the parade while decrying the police and corporate sponsorship.
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Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.