BOSTON — A town manager is shooting down “online trolls” who he says are posting misinformation that his Cape Cod community has banned American flags ahead of the Fourth of July.

Provincetown Town Manager Alex Morse has found himself caught in the middle of a rift between the North Shore town of Newbury and Plum Island residents over a warning that flags may pose a danger to endangered birds.

A social media post that circulated earlier this week blasted Morse, which referred to him as a “mayor,” for “urging residents not to fly American flags this 4th of July over concerns they could disturb endangered birds.”

Morse cleared the air on Wednesday.

“I don’t normally give things like this more oxygen than they deserve since it comes with the territory of working in public service,” the town manager stated in a Facebook post, “but after seeing the fake social media post circulating yesterday and today — and now that Town staff are receiving angry phone calls and emails because of it — I think it’s important to set the record straight.”

“The Town of Provincetown has not banned American flags,” he added, “We have not asked residents not to fly them. There has never been any discussion of doing so. That’s ridiculous.”

The Boston Herald reported earlier this week that disagreements have flared in Newbury over a letter from a Newbury Conservation agent to Plum Island property owners stating that flags and streamers on the beach may harm endangered birds.

One homeowner believed the letter — which identified the endangered birds as piping plovers and least terns — was in response to residents in the area decorating with flags for the upcoming July 4 and America250 celebrations.

Thomas Merolli, a treasurer/collector in the Worcester County town of Hopedale, responded to the Provincetown misinformation, stating on Facebook that he is “sick and tired of rage bait nonsense.”

“I see this type of post more and more; falsehoods and half-truths being widely shared to sew rage and discord,” Merolli stated, “and its not a phenomenon unique to one ideology.”

Morse suggests that people get outside, enjoy the weather, support local businesses, and celebrate “America’s 250th birthday with friends, family, and neighbors,” rather than “spending the holiday weekend arguing with strangers on Facebook.”

Provincetown, at the very northern tip of Cape Cod, about 60 miles out to sea, is home to roughly 3,500 year-round residents, a population that swells to as many as 60,000 visitors during the summer.

Morse said the town loves flags. “They fly proudly over Commercial Street and in front of homes and businesses from the East End to the West End. They are part of what makes this community special. Pride flags. Portuguese flags. American flags. And many others. They all reflect the history, diversity, and spirit of Provincetown.”

“This is exactly how misinformation spreads online,” Morse stated in his Facebook post. “An online troll creates a fabricated post designed to generate outrage, people share it before verifying it, and before long Town employees are fielding angry phone calls about something that was never true.”

“The people who create these fake posts aren’t interested in informing you,” he added, “they’re interested in provoking you.”

_____

©2026 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.