Mayor Blasio and Black Community Blamed for Terror Killing NYPD

7 Comments

1. 

   Oui on December 21, 2014 at 2:59 am

   For de Blasio, Attack Comes Amid Tension Over Police | NY Times |

   It is the sequence that every mayor dreads: the ominous report, the scramble to the hospital and the confirmation that, yes, an attack against the police has proved fatal.

   But for Mayor Bill de Blasio, the tragedy on Saturday — when two police officers were shot and killed in an ambush in Brooklyn, according to the authorities — arrived at a particularly trying moment, amid an already fractious relationship with the police.

   Police union leaders and officers could be seen turning their backs to the mayor and the police commissioner, William J. Bratton, as they walked past, in a video taken at the hospital where the two held a news conference on Saturday.

   …
   For weeks, New York City has been the roiling epicenter of a national reckoning over the police and race, attracting nightly protests since a Staten Island grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against a white police officer in the case of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who died after a chokehold in July.

   Police union leaders have condemned the mayor for what they have called insufficient support of the police; they have circulated a letter allowing officers to request that he not attend their funerals in the event of a line-of-duty death.

   ○ N.Y. Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke bluntly on race, policing in ways harder for Obama
   ○ NY Patrolmen to mayor de Blasio: “Stay away if we die on duty.”
2. 

   Oui on December 21, 2014 at 4:26 pm

   Killings of 2 New York officers trigger backlash

   NEW YORK (AP) — Civil rights leaders condemned the ambush killings of two New York police officers and expressed fear that the backlash over the bloodshed could derail the protest movement that has grown out of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

   In the raw hours following the killing of the officers, police union officials and politicians accused those who have protested the deaths of Garner and Brown of fanning anti-police fervor. Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association in New York, said there was “blood on the hands” of demonstrators and elected officials who have criticized police tactics.

   ○ Black Deaths and White Backlash in US and Australia | Dec. 5, 2014 |
   • 

     Marie2 on December 22, 2014 at 12:45 am

     I don’t have any good answers, but there’s always a high risk that an unstable person will act out the role of  vigilante when for a period of time public voices are unrelenting in demonizing a group instead of specific individuals and their actions.  Did urge caution on this a couple of times — and was dismissed.    

     While no police were shot by the Oakland Freeway shooter, they could have been.  But didn’t see/hear police or the rightwing media blaming the shooter’s inspiration — Fox, Beck, and Hannity.  The Fox gang are irresponsible and it was proper to call them out as such.  Those that didn’t do so should have zero credibility in this instance.  Those that did have the same responsibility to point out irresponsibility in this instance.  

3. 

   lamh31 on December 22, 2014 at 8:42 pm

   @maggiepolitico De Blasio, before election, was convinced his police detail was eves-dropping on his conversations

   http://t.co/DNq1SYJvcV

   • 

     Oui on December 23, 2014 at 1:54 am

     From your linked article …
     During the campaign: de Blasio’s withering criticism of the Bloomberg administration’s stop-and-frisk policy!

     Blasio’s dilemma isn’t unique in a time of transition

     De Blasio allies often point out that he is governing at a time of transition in the city, the first new mayor elected since the population shifted to a majority of Hispanics, blacks and Asians. The police department has seen demographic changes as well, although its top union leaders — a set of hard-edged members who have long been quote machines for the city’s voracious media — have basically remained the same. The unions, whose leaders have long criticized city mayors, are currently in a contract dispute with City Hall.

     …
     Axelrod, who recently visited with de Blasio in City Hall, said the mayor isn’t clueless – just trying to walk a fine line. “Any mayor has to appreciate the incredible burden on police departments and the courage of men and women who put themselves into potentially dangerous situations each day to keep communities safe,” he said. “By the same token, there’s an obvious breach between the police and communities of color, not just in New York, but most urban areas, that is bad for both police and the folks they’re sworn to serve and protect.”

     ○ Federal judge ruled stop-and-frisk tactics of the New York Police Department violated the constitutional rights of minorities

     The media play a large role how the present credibility of mayor de Blasio and the police unions are perceived by the public. I watched CNNi for some live reports and was taken aback for its one-sided reporting in favor of the hardline police unions by repeated showing of the video where most, but not all, NY policemen turned their backs on a passing mayor de Blasio. Speaking of undermining one’s authority. The murder of two cops in Brooklyn was a criminal act as is happening daily across the US and elsewhere. Throwing fuel on a burning fire is not the way to act and is quite irresponsible by persons in leadership. Shame on you police union leadership!

     ○ Next Issue for New York’s Mayor and Police: A Contract

4. 

   Oui on December 27, 2014 at 3:05 pm

   I find the whole matter by NYPD leaders and unions obscene!

   Using the moment of personal grief for a political action is immoral. I watched briefly the ceremony and the surviving family of Rafael Ramos standing lonely as the police commander handed the US flag.

   ○ California high school bans ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-shirts for teams at basketball tournament

   Cross-posted from BooMan’s fp story – The NYPD Holds Itself Blameless.

5. 

   Oui on December 27, 2014 at 6:01 pm

   Police turn backs on NYC mayor outside funeral for officer Rafael Ramos

   Thousands more cops turn their backs on @deBlasioNYC as he eulogizes #NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos.

   As de Blasio walks into Officer Rafael Ramos’ funeral, he’s greeted with a “Dump de Blasio” sign

    « click for more info
   "God bless the NYPD. Dump de Blasio."

   A spokesperson for de Blasio released a short statement addressing the actions of some of the police officers:

   “The Ramos and Liu families, our police department and our city
   are dealing with an unconscionable tragedy. Our sole focus is on
   unifying this city and honoring the lives of our two police officers.”

   After the two cops were murdered, it was Pat Lynch, head of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association who set the tone by placing responsibility on Mayor de Blasio: “he has blood on his hands.”

   ○ The NY Police Union’s Vile War with Mayor De Blasio