City won’t take down Black Lives Matter banner on City Hall

After Black Lives Matter Vancouver asked the Vancouver Police to voluntarily withdraw their float from the upcoming Pride Parade as a “show of solidarity and understanding”, the department says it will still take part in the parade.

“The mayor has clearly chosen a side, and it’s not to support law enforcement”, President Michael McGrath of the Somerville Police Employees Association told ABC News.

“We thought the judge was overstepping his authority by arresting an attorney for simply letting the world know she is in favor of the Black Lives [Matter] movement”, said NAACP’s George Freeman.

He also added that a banner honoring the slain officers is hanging at Somerville Police Headquarters. And it should be like, black lives, it should matter when a black life take it.

The letter didn’t change Curtatone’s mind.

My unwavering support for our police officers does not and can not preempt our commitment to addressing systemic racism in our nation.

Following the deaths of unarmed civilians Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, who were shot by police officers earlier this month, the rapper remained silent on the Black Live Matter movement – a silence which has been broadly criticized by the hip-hop community.

“Why not hang a banner that reads ‘We All Matter?'” DeNapoli told ABC News.

Curtatone said he has made it clear to Somerville officers that the city should be thankful for and reinforce its safe community because of “the highest quality policing by a force dedicated to community policing, de-escalation, proper use of force, and anti-bias awareness”.

Burton will stay out of jail during the appeals process as long as she obeys Milich’s order not to wear items that make a political statement in court.

And what about local Somerville police? “And as a radical-black farmer from East Oakland, I eat pigs, I don’t eat with them”, she said. At least one said it’s not his place to say.

Curtatone’s office said the mayor was unavailable Thursday, but the police chief addressed the controversy.

Bangor Police Sergeant Tim Cotton, a spokesman for the department said that they are supportive of any peaceful demonstration.