On her Saturday broadcast, MSNBC’s host Melissa Harris-Perry criticized the New York Police Department’s silent protest of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
According to Harris-Perry, the protest of the civilian leader of the police force has a “chilling” effect because it undermines the notion of civilian control of the police.
“That’s why I want to come to you on this question part of whose interest because part of what is important is when the mayor says the words – words that haven’t been said by a mayor for 20 years is whatever else the police have, and they have the actual power of the state, right?” she said. “The reason I find it chilling when they turn their back is my sense that civilian control of police and of military is critical to a stable democracy. If it’s just a labor-management issue, it’s not so upsetting. But it worries me that the people who are armed, who have the power of the state…”
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