Exchanges suggested they would shoot mayor during Black Lives Matter protests
New York, NY (April 18, 2023) – Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), today called on Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to immediately investigate the exchange between 17 police officers in Antioch, California, who sent racist messages to each other – going so far as to suggest they should shoot the city’s Black mayor during a 2020 protest after the murder of George Floyd. Rev. Sharpton also asked the DOJ to provide safety for Mayor Thorpe as the trust with the police department has eroded.
“The hood is off for these cops, and we have seen their true colors. When you have 17 members of the Antioch Police Department offering free dinner to whoever shoots the mayor, how can you expect any of them to honestly keep him, let alone anyone else, safe? I am respectfully asking Attorney General Garland to take over this situation, as we have seen these incidents galvanize those who wish to cause harm against Black elected officials. I stand with Mayor Thorpe and the residents of Antioch, who have been deeply and severely betrayed by those sworn to protect them.”
About National Action Network (NAN)
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.
For more information go to http://www.nationalactionnetwork.net.