BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST WHITE NATIONALIST AND RACISTS
National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers Condemn the Acts of Violence and Bigotry Exhibited in Charlottesville, VA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dated: Sunday August 13, 2017
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, as a body of professional criminal justice practitioners, is committed to the protection of our communities from all sources of violence, mayhem, and disruption. It is what we do day in and day out. And we have always been sensitive to the rights of all, regardless of who they are or represent, to freely express their views and opinions, so long as it is done in a respectful and courteous fashion.
As such, we must voice our righteous condemnation of the acts of those white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other domestic terrorists who attacked the protesters in Charlottesville, VA, resulting not only in the death of at least one protestor and injury to multiple others, but the related deaths of two law enforcement officers. The vile, despicable and cowardly acts conducted by these individuals must be considered for what they truly are – acts of terror no different than those which were perpetrated against the World Trade Center in 2001.
And the words of the President of the United States do not nearly or even adequately define what our country’s response to these acts should, and must, be. There are but two sides to this issue. You either actively support these acts or you vibrantly condemn them. And we say this even while recognizing that there are those among us professionally who do lend their support for these acts and the people who perpetuate them.
It is incumbent upon all members of law enforcement, as well as our community partners, to fight with every ounce of our being to divest ourselves of this scourge upon humanity, and eradicate their cause and their very existence from our communities. Only then will we be able to live up to our full potential as citizens. Only then, will we be able to say to our friends, neighbors, and children, that we have made America great again. In the words of Nelson Mandela “It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.” We must join together to erase this form of radicalism to make that better world available to all.
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.
