An African American police officer in Chicago has filed a complaint against a fellow black officer for taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Frederick Collins made the complaint against Carmella Means, who is a 25-year veteran with the Chicago Police Department for kneeling with a Black Lives Matter insignia in front of their police union headquarters, FOX 32 reported.
“To have organizations that wish us dead, call us the N-word… that destroy stores in our neighborhood, that promote violence… how could you kneel in support of that type of organization?” Collins, who is a 27-year veteran with the department told FOX 32.
The #BLM movement reignited over the past few weeks after the death of George Floyd, the 46-year-old Black man who lost his life after Minnesota cop, Derek Chauvin, was filmed kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes, despite pleading he could not breathe. Floyd’s death sparked protests against police brutality and systemic racism in the United States.
One Chicago police officer wants his fellow officer charged for kneeling in support of #BlackLivesMatter. https://t.co/cQW4ONf4w6 pic.twitter.com/pEFaY7DVpu
— Tia A. Ewing (@TIA_EWING) July 9, 2020
Speaking to FOX 32, Means who took the viral photo last month kneeling in front of the Fraternal Order of Police’s (FOP) headquarters while holding a sign that said, “Black Lives Matter”, wondered why Collins filed the complaint against her.
“Just because someone wants a better police department or is standing up against corruption in the police department and police brutality, doesn’t make them anti-police. I am pro-police,” Means said. “I don’t know what his motivations are. I don’t know him.”
According to the FOP, Means violated its constitution and by-laws, accusing her of failing to build a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among the membership. She has a hearing and faces the FOP board in 30 days.
“I think that if she had a gripe, the lodge offers you plenty of opportunity to bring anything before the members,” Collins said. “I’ve been out there in the marches, I’ve held my fist up, but we aren’t going to kneel before anyone but God.”
