Black Lives Matter Activists Occupy Police Union Headquarters in D.C. and New York
20th July 2016
Black Lives Matter activists occupied police union offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City on Wednesday morning for what protesters say is the unions’ role in defending police violence against minorities and opposing police reform legislation.
In D.C., activists with the local chapters of the Black Youth Project 100 and Black Lives Matter blocked the entrances to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) legislative headquarters and the nearby intersection.
Meanwhile, the New York City chapters of the BYP100 and Million Hoodies occupied the lobby of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, which represents New York City Police Department officers.
Standing outside the FOP’s legislative office in D.C., local Black Youth Project 100 activist Clarise McCants called the FOP “the most dangerous fraternity in America.”
“We’re here today to make sure that no legislation that will continue to criminalize black people and protect killer cops is created,” McCants said. “When police officers kill us, they call their police union rep first, so the unions, especially the Fraternal Order of Police, are one of the main hindrances to keeping police accountable.”
If these guys are trying to start a race war with the police, I know who I’m betting on.