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Local police union representatives are openly challenging the City of Somerville to remove the “Black Lives Matter” banner hanging at City Hall.
By Jim Clark
The controversy surrounding the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) banner hanging outside of Somerville City Hall has once again been generating discussion and fomenting intense emotional responses from those with strong opinions regarding the propriety of the display.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Somerville’s Mayor Curtatone – but also openly distributed to area media outlets – on July 19, Michael McGrath, President of Somerville Police Employees Association, criticized the continued display of the banner.
The letter, in part, sates: “The Somerville Police Employees Association and its members are deeply troubled that the City continues to display the Black Lives Matter banner above the main entrance of City Hall. It is as inconceivable to us as it is demoralizing that our City would propagate its support for this movement while standing silent over the seemingly daily protest assassinations of innocent police officers around the country.”
The letter further stated that the Association “is as opposed to the misuse of excessive force, including deadly force, as are the well-intentioned members of the BLM movement. However, it is clear that fringe elements of that movement, and other protest movements, are provoked to indiscriminate violence against police officers in their name.”
The letter went on to say that certain BLM supporters have advocated the injuring or killing of police officers, and suggested that the city’s hanging of the banner in question sends a wrong message to the public and to police officers.
Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon answered questions regarding the banner last week.
The letter summed up the issue by declaring: “…the removal of that banner and the placement of a banner stating “ALL LIVES MATTER” would reflect appropriate concerns that police officers everywhere, as they do in Somerville, use deadly force only when necessary to protect the public or themselves from substantial harm, while simultaneously condemning the reprehensible murder of innocent police officers. Your police officers will be carefully watching for your supportive response to this most important request.”
Mayor Curtatone immediately issued a public statement in response to the letter that read as follows:
“My unwavering support for our police officers does not and cannot preempt our commitment to addressing systemic racism in our nation. The City of Somerville stands against all violence and all injustice, which is why a Black Lives Matter banner hangs at City Hall and why a banner in honor of the slain officers is hanging at Somerville Police Headquarters where it would provide the most moral support to our officers—both on my order. Both banners will remain hanging. I’ve made very clear to our officers that we should be thankful for—and reinforce—what we have here in Somerville: a safer community thanks to the highest quality policing by a force dedicated to community policing, de-escalation, proper use of force, and anti-bias awareness. Peaceful protest to end violence and injustice stands at the core of our nation’s values and our democracy and we will continue our peaceful protest via the banner. Violence is never justified, and that is the message that both of our banners— for Black Lives Matter and for the slain officers—are intended to make.”
Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon also responded, holding a press conference in which he took questions and offered his views regarding the prolonged display of the banner.
“As Chief of Police, what I’m concerned about is if anyone living in my community is in fear of the Police Department, whether I feel that is justified or not doesn’t matter,” Fallon said. “It’s my job as Chief of Police to reach out to them.”
When asked if he thought the banner should come down, Fallon said, “I don’t think the Police Department or the union should get involved in politics.”
On Tuesday, July 26, the Somerville Police Employee’s Association, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, announced that a rally will take place at Somerville City Hall on Thursday, July 28, to protest the continued display of the banner. The statement reads as follows:
“The Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, in conjunction with the Somerville Police Employees Association, will hold a rally at the Somerville City Hall on Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to protest the display of the Black Lives Matter banner by Mayor Joseph Curtatone above the entrance to the Hall. The rally will be peaceful and respectful, but will demonstrate the solidarity of police organizations in Massachusetts to the exclusionary message that the banner sends. In the face of the continuing assassination of innocent police officers across the country as an apparent offshoot of the BLM movement, it is irresponsible of the City to publically declare support for the lives of one sector of our population to the exclusion of others, including police officers. While we support the core goal of the BLM movement – equal treatment under law – we find the banner’s message disrespectful of police officers and potentially encouraging to individuals who pervert that message through the indiscriminate murder of our counterparts around the country.”
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Here is what the “Officer Down Memorial Page” has to say about police officer line of duty deaths in the United States so far in 2016. (odmp.org)
Line of Duty Deaths: 69
9/11 related illness: 1
Aircraft accident: 1
Animal related: 1
Assault: 2
Automobile accident: 9
Drowned: 1
Gunfire: 32
Gunfire (Accidental): 1
Heart attack: 4
Motorcycle accident: 3
Struck by vehicle: 2
Vehicle pursuit: 3
Vehicular assault: 9
Their website says that gunfire deaths are up by 88%, but 32 deaths by gunfire in six months is hardly “seemingly daily protest assassinations.”
The Guardian’s website documenting people killed by police in the United States (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database#) says 611 people have been killed by police so far this year. 9 of those were in Massachusetts, and at the Guardian website you can read about the situations where they were killed. All were violent confrontations.
I fear the police participating in this protest are forgetting a basic principle of policing – namely, that the police only have power because the public grants them that power.
The people’s position is the Mayor’s position. And, the Mayor is the executive in charge of the police. For the police to do anything but support the Mayor and the people’s position is not just a rejection of their duties as employees of the city, it is a rejection of the very idea that makes America possible. Namely, that the people hold the power, and the state is permitted by the people to enforce those laws.
As long as Mayor Curtatone maintains his elected position legally, the police have no grounds for questioning his authority.
They are disrespecting our system of governance and they are displaying a fundamental lack of understanding of what their role is in our community.
What is all the fuss about? This is a no-brainer. City Hall is a city owned property- as such the banner never should have been erected as Cith Hall should be a politically neutral entity with no personal agenda. The banner should be taken down immediately. If not, I suggest involvement by the ACLU to direct the mayor to take the banner down with the otherwise possibility of legal action due to its infringement upon the rights of Somerville citizens to be free from political influence imposed upon them by the presence of a political banner on city property.
Alex:
This is what happened in Germany. Hitler’s position was supported and adopted by the people, the police, and the military. We know how that went. I think you are wrong, ALEX.
Well said Jim B. There should be a standard as which flags also should fly on public property. It’s the right thing to do and one the mayor should want. If he personally wants the banner to be displayed do so on his own house. The causes may be good but can create problems.
Alex, to state that the people’s position is the mayor’s position is utter rubbish. Many a Somerville citizen will disagree with many of the policies put forth by the mayor- the protest across Rt. 93, Sanctuary City,etc. All you have to do is look at some of the comments on Facebook linked to this article regarding the banner protest.Not to be outlandish in example but hypothetically, if the mayor were to institute a 10pm curfew for the city, and the scofflaws were to be shot on sight, according to your theory the police would have to blindly carry out those orders.Thankfully, there is a system of checks and balances to negate absolute power. Read your history, sir and take note of the Boston Police strike, and please do not underestimate SPD’s “understanding of its role in the community. I think it is you who does not understand the role of any first responder in the community.
On the ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/feature/blacklivesmatter
John, please reread your WWII history about the major causes leading to the ride of Hitler. Our police, the people and the military currently agree on support a long list of things that one would assume would include ending racist bias..
Personally, I’m disgusted that some of our police officers want to pick a fight with our minority residents who need to be heard and represented. I sure hope the cops who protest today realize this is going to go over like a lead balloon with the people of Somerville. Take a look at how this city votes in every election. We’re progressive to the core. If that’s problem for certain officers, maybe they need to be working somewhere else.
Yes Jim it is a no-brainer. Racial violence is illegal in our country even though it is rampant. Black Lives Matter is simply an ant-racism movement. So not, it’s not about being “politically neutral”, it’s about the law.
Good on Mayor Joe. There will never be change unless people in power take powerful stances. Cops have been targeting minorities since the beginning of policing. If you can’t see and understand this, you’re either white and have lived a sheltered life, or you’re in denial. I have friends who have been pulled over for driving while black, who have been followed in airports because they’re black, who have generally not received the same common courtesies extended to white Americans. I’m 30- I was born in Boston and grew up in Somerville. The cops there racially profile, just like everywhere else. They did it when I used to hang out at Lincoln Park after school, they did it after I graduated high school, and they still do it, today. People in my parents’ generation: our generation doesn’t accept police brutality or racial profiling as a fact-of-life. We actually give a shit when cops are abusive. My dad used to tell me stories about cops slapping he and his friends around, and that was “just how it was.” That’s abuse. That’s assault, and the previous generation let police abuse power to the point where it became acceptable.
If the #blacklivesmatter sign hanging on City Hall makes you angry, or uncomfortable, good. It should. Maybe you’ll understand how some of the relatives of black Americans murdered by police feel.
For those who want to hang an #alllivesmatter banner, enjoy your white privilege. You might as well be asking for a #whitelivesmatter banner, you’re so out of touch.