The Black Lives Matter movement continues to gain momentum. More Americans are rising in protest against the violent actions of police officers.
Colin Kaepernick made headlines by refusing to stand up during the playing of the National Anthem at a pre-season football game. He explained his reasoning by saying this:
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
It’s probably no surprise that Kaepernick was slammed for his actions. He was accused of being anti-police and anti-military.
The backlash was predictable and awful in equal measure.
https://twitter.com/RitzyBacon2/status/771501382406987776
The thing is, Kaepernick is right in calling out the racism that exists in some of our police officers.
The Huffington Post has a perfect example.
A Philadelphia police officer has come under fire after being photographed with his pro-Nazi tattoos in full view. The officer is named Ian Hans Lichtermann and he works for Northeast Philadelphia’s second precinct.
The cop was noticed by a Philadelphia resident who took photos of him and his tattoos. The photographer, a man named Evan Parish Matthews, posted the photos to Facebook.
The tats are taken right out of Hitler’s Nazi Party. There can be no mistaking the intent. There is the Nazi eagle, and the word “Fatherland.”
What is particularly upsetting is that the cop who was sporting white supremacy tattoos was working at a Black Resistance March in the city.
Evan Matthews made the photos public and encouraged other citizens of the City of Brotherly Love to contact police headquarters to complain.
One day after the Facebook post went viral, Philadelphia’s police department released a statement that didn’t actually say much. They promised to “look into” the tattoo, but also vowed to be sensitive to the feelings of the community and the officers.
The Mayor, who depends of the votes of the public, was less diplomatic. He called the tattoos “incredibly offensive.”
Also new: statement from @PhillyMayor on the photo of the apparent Nazi tattoo worn by PPD officer pic.twitter.com/tryH12odXL
— Chris Palmer (@cs_palmer) September 1, 2016
The police officer in question has been tied to various white supremacist groups. Photos have been found him in a full Nazi uniform. He has deleted several social media accounts where he used the incredibly horrific handle “Panzerhund0311.”
We don’t know if officer Lichtermann will be reprimanded, or fired, or what will happen to him.
What we do know is that Colin Kaepernick is right. There is most definitely a serious problem with racism, nationalism and white supremacy among America’s law enforcement officers.
Kaepernick is right to sit. I plan to join him.
Featured image via Facebook screengrab.
