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In reply to the discussion: 'DE BLASIO, OUR BACKS HAVE TURNED TO YOU' Cold war between NYPD cops, de Blasio takes to skies [View all]branford
(4,462 posts)As indicated in this thread, my primary issue is labor rights and protections. The calls to discipline the officers for the banner and back-turning are authoritarian, contrary to law and contract, hypocritical, and terrible for the labor movement, particularly public employees.
I also do not believe that effective strategies to combat racial disparities in the justice system should ignore current legal, political or social realities. Although many here do not agree, I rest comfortably knowing that the recent actions and statements by people like Mayor deBlasio and AG Holder demonstrate I'm not alone in realizing that tactics must reflect changing circumstances.
I also hardly defend every action by the police. However, I most certainly refuse to demonize all police, any more than I would generalize all minority youth, and will not engage in knee-jerk reactions to any event. For instance, after the recent shooting of Antonio Martin in Missouri, I did not immediate blame the police like many here. In fact, if recent reports prove true, and Martin drew a weapon on the officer, it would appear to be a justified shooting.
There are more than enough instances of actual police misconduct, but that does not mean in every negative interactions between police and young black men, that the police are at fault. Additionally, when discussing certain matters like the Ferguson grand jury, many people unequivocally misunderstood the relevant law and procedure. Except to the most blind partisans and ideologues, correcting these errors is certainly not support for the police.