Four Minneapolis Police Department off-duty officers were providing security for the WNBA Lynx game when they failed to report for duty. Upon noticing the players’ pre-game clothing, the four became agitated and left.
The names of two black individuals who had been shot by police were printed on black T-shirts that the players were sporting. One such person was Philando Castile, a Minnesota man who was shot and murdered by police while being stopped for traffic.
A Dallas police badge was printed on the shirt’s back, which was likewise printed. This was done in memory of the five Dallas police officers who died while doing their duties. “Black Lives Matter” was also written on the shirt’s back.
The players clarified during the pre-game press conference that the shirts were created to both fight for change and to honor and grieve the deceased.
“What is happening today is not new,” Rebekkah Brunson said, recounting her own early contact with police officers brandishing their weapons.
“We have determined that it is important to us to take a stand and raise our voices,” she said. There is an issue with racial profiling. There is an issue with needless violence.
The four officers requested that the players remove their shirts after being upset by them, according to the Minneapolis Police Federation. They left because the crew did not want to follow their instructions.
“Our officers have been frustrated,” said Lt. Bob Kroll, head of the police federation, “even though it’s just a T-shirt.”
He described the demonstration as “anti-police” and claimed the Lynx players were supporting a “false narrative” that involved misbehavior by the police.
They’re wading into areas they shouldn’t have been in in the first place. They play sports professionally. Continue to play ball. He stated, “People go there to watch the basketball game.”
The chief of police in Minneapolis, Janee Harteau, acknowledged the officers’ frustrations but disagreed with their actions. “Even though these officers were representing the Lynx, I expect all officers to uphold our core values and honor their oath of office when they don a Minneapolis Police uniform,” she said.
The public’s expectations for the uniform these officers wear are not met when they leave work early and neglect to fulfill their contractual duty to serve the Lynx.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, wrote on Facebook, calling Bob Kroll’s comments regarding the Lynx “jackass.” To be clear, labor leadership does not speak for management by nature. Bob Kroll most definitely doesn’t speak for me when it comes to the Lynx or anything else.
