THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN POLICE AND CITIZENS ESPECIALLY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IS RUPTURED BY DESIGN. THIS IS A CRIME BY THE POLICE IN CHICAGO. THE CHARGE IS INCITING A RIOT. Chicago police say an officer will be disciplined after video captured a CPD vehicle blasting Sweet Home Alabama during a Black Lives Matter protest in Chicago.Police said Thursday the officer came forward, but did not specify what disciplinary action would be taken. Protesters Jam Loop, Lake Shore Drive While he says he was playing the music as fan of the University of Alabama, CPD fully understands sensitivities related to the song and regardless we cannot condone any behavior that may be viewed as disruptive or disrespectful to any protestor or resident, a statement from police said. To the contrary, as you have seen over the past couple weeks, CPD is dedicated to ensuring residents right to free speech and peaceful assembly.Photographer Gabriel Michael said demonstrators were near the intersection of Pulaski and Monroe at the end of the march over the weekend when the unmarked squad car rolled by loudly playing the Lynyrd Skynyrd anthem.Witnesses say a Cruiser Blasted Sweet Home Alabama at Protestors (Published Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014)“I realized the music was coming from a cruiser, I just couldn’t believe it,” he said.That’s when he began recording. CPD Car Blasts Sweet Home Alabama at Protest “My brain couldn’t process,” he said. “They were playing this song at a protest for black lives—Mike Brown, Eric Garner. A song co-opted by conservative southern bigoted groups as a kind of rallying cry for Confederate and racist values.”The controversial 40-year-old song is an ode to Alabama and a retort to Neil Youngs Southern Man, a song about racism in the south. It has also been the target of criticism over the years for what some interpret as support for former Alabama governor and segregationist George Wallace, which Skynyrds singer Ronnie van Zant called a misinterpretation. Michael noted that the University of Alabama played Missouri on Saturday and the song is often associated with the team, but said no matter the reason, playing the song during the march may be an example of the distance between police officers and the community.“It made me think of how desensitized these cops were to think it was funny to be playing that,” Michael said. “I’d like to know what their explanation is, why they did it.”
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:41:09 +0000
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