The commanding officer of a Queens NYPD precinct received backlash after the precinct tweeted #BlackLivesMatter in support of Black History Month.
The New York Daily News reports that the tweet, which appeared on the official Twitter feed of the 100th Precinct, celebrated the contributions of Black boxer Jack Johnson, reading, “Jack Johnson became the first African American man to hold the World Heavyweight Champion boxing title in 1908. #Blacklivesmatter.”
Twitter/NY Daily News
The hashtag was later updated.
Deputy Inspector Janice Holmes, whose image appears in the precincts profile photos, faced backlash after the tweet was shared. Still, others came forward to defend Black Lives Matter.
A source told NY Daily News that Holmes, the first Black commander of her precinct, quickly made clear to superiors that she was not the one who shared the tweet and requested that it be removed.
It’s unlikely that she or the person who shared the tweet will face any departmental charges.