Chicago Police Union Head: Officers Who Kneel In Uniform Will Face Discipline
Megan Everts
The president of Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police, John Catanzara, is “taking a hard stand against police officers who kneel with protesters,” reported WGN9.
- Catanzara argued in a recent interview that officers should only kneel and side with protesters on their own time: “Any member of Lodge 7 who is going to take a knee and basically side with protesters while they’re in uniform will subject themselves to discipline in the lodge up to and including expulsion from Lodge 7.”
Critics were quick to call out the hypocrisy of his comments by pointing out a controversial media post he made back in 2017.
- Catanzara “posted a photo of himself in Chicago police uniform, in front of a squad car, with a sign that said: ‘I stand for the anthem/I love the American flag/I support my president and the 2nd Amendment.’”
- More specifically, Catanzara “posted the photo in the wake of President Donald Trump’s criticism of the NFL and players kneeling during the national anthem.”
- When questioned about this post, Catanzara denied any potential hypocrisy.
“My post was patriotic support of all things American. If people cannot see the difference between kneeling in support of voices saying the police are the problem in society and should be defunded or even abolished, then there really is no reason to continue any dialog. It’s an apple and automobile comparison.”
Catanzara also said plans for additional oversight for police are an attempt to undermine protections in officers’ contracts and that he does not believe race was a factor in the death of George Floyd.
