American flags replaced with white flags atop Brooklyn Bridge

BROOKLYN , NY – Two American flags that fly on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City were missing Tuesday morning.

Flying on top of the bridge instead were two white flags flapping in the breeze.

PIX11 News reported police were trying to figure out who was responsible for the bizarre stunt.

News of the swap spread quickly and had motorists and pedestrians looking skyward to see the change.

White flags are typically raised to signify a surrender.

Police said it was not clear what time the flags were placed there, or who did it.

Associated Press reporter Jonathan Lemire posted a photo of the flag-swap on Twitter.



By 11:30 a.m., both flags had been removed by police officers who scaled the bridge and took them down.

The bridge is one of the most heavily secured landmarks in the city, constantly monitored by surveillance cameras.

Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams derided the stunt, saying it jeopardizes public safety especially at city landmarks that are already “known to be high-risk targets.”

“If flying a white flag atop the Brooklyn Bridge is someone’s idea of a joke, I’m not laughing,” Adams said in a statement.

“We will not surrender our public safety to anyone, at any time. Political and social expression, whatever its message may be, has a place in our society, but not at the expense of others’ security,” he added.