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On Wednesday, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone commented on the rally scheduled for Thursday to be held by police groups protesting the presence of the “Black Lives Matter” banner hanging at City Hall:
Our understanding is that there will be both a police rally as well as counter protests attended by Somerville residents and others. We respect all three group’s right to protest.
I want also to reiterate that I am the mayor of a city with a Black Lives Banner hanging from City Hall and an “In Honor and Remembrance” banner hanging at its police headquarters to honor the fallen officers in Dallas and also Baton Rouge.
Those banners do not represent two competing thoughts. Standing up for our minority populations and supporting the police officers who protect and serve our communities should go hand-in-hand. We should have a culture of respect that flows in both directions. In fact, that respect is the foundation on which our civil society rests.
Both of those banners are hanging for the same reason: too many people have died in a cycle of violence that needs to be stopped. It is a violence that tests us in every community, demanding we either come together or break apart.
This week a Somerville police officer penned a letter insisting we take down the Black Lives Matter banner, essentially asking our city to pick a side. Afterward I received an overwhelming response from people in my city thanking me for continuing to hang that banner along with the one at our police headquarters. We’ve also heard from our own police that the letter sent by that one officer does not represent their views on this matter and that they were not consulted before it was penned.
What our residents and our officers made clear is they reject the notion that there are sides to pick here. We can stand together for the principle that every person who leaves their home and every officer who heads out to do their job should return safely. That is where most people stand. That is why both banners will remain.
The amount of trust the men and women of the Somerville Police Department have built because of the work we’ve done is inspirational. What you have here is a disagreement between the head of the Patrolmen’s union, and his disagreement of how we institute progressive policing policies in the city. We’re trying to engage every member of the community. We believe everyone has a role to play in advancing public health and public safety. We shouldn’t be policing the way we did 30 years ago. We believe in training our officers to deal with society today, and we believe we’re leading the way. So if the head of the Patrolmen’s union wants to step up and be part of the dialogue, the door is open.
The protest rally, organized by The Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, in conjunction with the Somerville Police Employees Association, is scheduled to take place at Somerville City Hall on Thursday, July 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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We have to remember that he is an employee of the city and as such he can dictate what he wants regardless of what his employess wish him to do.
“We can stand together for the principle that every person who leaves their home and every officer who heads out to do their job should return safely. That is where most people stand. That is why both banners will remain.”
Every person = all lives matter
Very well said. Thank you, Mayor Curatone!
I am far away from home but will be back soon. I am very proud of my city and my mayor for stating clearly that black lives matter and for not backing down when faced by short-sighted (if not narrow-minded) opposition.
You are discriminating against every race except black. THAT IS NOT WHAT AMERICA IS!!! SHAME ON YOU MR MAYOR. AMERICAN INDIAN MUSLIM WHITE ASIAN ETC…
YET YOU PUT UP A BANNER STATING ONLY BLACK LIVES MATTER? REALLY?? STUPIDITY
Yes, injustice in society is great and we need to as a community to come together and work out a solution. But, we need to be smart and not inflame emotions on either side of the debate. The fact is BLM message has become inflammatory to many people and cops especially. This is because its message has been diluted by the actions of some of its members and rally attendees. It is not that the premise behind BLM that is wrong, but the organization and message is it delivers has been, at times, divisive, hateful and full of bigotry. Their brand is tainted by the action of a few at members who openly chanted for the killings of police officers at televised rallies in Minneapolis and New York, who celebrate the assassinations of police officers in social media and who turn peaceful protests into riots and looting sprees. They paid homage to members of the Black Liberation Army that are convicted cop killers. It is disrespectful to the police officers that protect our city to support and organization that does not condemn violence, but openly glorifies violence. They are at times disrespectful to people that do not share their exact view, as evident during a Bernie Sanders rally, members forced themselves on stage and took over the microphone. The symbol of BLM has become divisive and how can a community come together when we are celebrating something that pushes us apart?
Thank you for your resolve Mr. Mayor. This is the right thing to do.
Now that the Mayor has affirmed that Black lives matter, can he demonstrate that they matter enough to finally hire some people of color at City Hall?