By Jim Clark

The controversy surrounding the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) banner hanging outside of Somerville City Hall has once again been generating discussion and fomenting intense emotional responses from those with strong opinions regarding the propriety of the display.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Somerville’s Mayor Curtatone – but also openly distributed to area media outlets – on July 19, Michael McGrath, President of Somerville Police Employees Association, criticized the continued display of the banner.

The letter, in part, sates: “The Somerville Police Employees Association and its members are deeply troubled that the City continues to display the Black Lives Matter banner above the main entrance of City Hall. It is as inconceivable to us as it is demoralizing that our City would propagate its support for this movement while standing silent over the seemingly daily protest assassinations of innocent police officers around the country.”

The letter further stated that the Association “is as opposed to the misuse of excessive force, including deadly force, as are the well-intentioned members of the BLM movement. However, it is clear that fringe elements of that movement, and other protest movements, are provoked to indiscriminate violence against police officers in their name.”

The letter went on to say that certain BLM supporters have advocated the injuring or killing of police officers, and suggested that the city’s hanging of the banner in question sends a wrong message to the public and to police officers.

The letter summed up the issue by declaring: “…the removal of that banner and the placement of a banner stating “ALL LIVES MATTER” would reflect appropriate concerns that police officers everywhere, as they do in Somerville, use deadly force only when necessary to protect the public or themselves from substantial harm, while simultaneously condemning the reprehensible murder of innocent police officers. Your police officers will be carefully watching for your supportive response to this most important request.”

Mayor Curtatone immediately issued a public statement in response to the letter that read as follows:

“My unwavering support for our police officers does not and cannot preempt our commitment to addressing systemic racism in our nation. The City of Somerville stands against all violence and all injustice, which is why a Black Lives Matter banner hangs at City Hall and why a banner in honor of the slain officers is hanging at Somerville Police Headquarters where it would provide the most moral support to our officers—both on my order. Both banners will remain hanging. I’ve made very clear to our officers that we should be thankful for—and reinforce—what we have here in Somerville: a safer community thanks to the highest quality policing by a force dedicated to community policing, de-escalation, proper use of force, and anti-bias awareness. Peaceful protest to end violence and injustice stands at the core of our nation’s values and our democracy and we will continue our peaceful protest via the banner. Violence is never justified, and that is the message that both of our banners— for Black Lives Matter and for the slain officers—are intended to make.”

Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon also responded, holding a press conference in which he took questions and offered his views regarding the prolonged display of the banner.

“As Chief of Police, what I’m concerned about is if anyone living in my community is in fear of the Police Department, whether I feel that is justified or not doesn’t matter,” Fallon said. “It’s my job as Chief of Police to reach out to them.”

When asked if he thought the banner should come down, Fallon said, “I don’t think the Police Department or the union should get involved in politics.”

On Tuesday, July 26, the Somerville Police Employee’s Association, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, announced that a rally will take place at Somerville City Hall on Thursday, July 28, to protest the continued display of the banner. The statement reads as follows:

“The Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, in conjunction with the Somerville Police Employees Association, will hold a rally at the Somerville City Hall on Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to protest the display of the Black Lives Matter banner by Mayor Joseph Curtatone above the entrance to the Hall. The rally will be peaceful and respectful, but will demonstrate the solidarity of police organizations in Massachusetts to the exclusionary message that the banner sends. In the face of the continuing assassination of innocent police officers across the country as an apparent offshoot of the BLM movement, it is irresponsible of the City to publically declare support for the lives of one sector of our population to the exclusion of others, including police officers. While we support the core goal of the BLM movement – equal treatment under law – we find the banner’s message disrespectful of police officers and potentially encouraging to individuals who pervert that message through the indiscriminate murder of our counterparts around the country.”