The Guardian‘s not the only publication firing shots at that much-loved photo of a Portland officer hugging a 12-year-old boy in the midst of recent Ferguson-related protests.
Website the Root, which bills itself as “the premier news, opinion and culture site for African-American influencers,” also posted a story about the photo, shot by the Oregonian‘s Johnny Nguyen. Relying heavily on the Mercury‘s reporting (and our commenters!), the site points out that the officer in the photo, Sgt. Bret Barnum, was among a number of Portland Police Bureau employees who showed support for officers who’d posted online photos of an “I Am Darren Wilson” bracelet wrapped around a Portland police badge.
Here’s the Mercury comment that initially pointed out those supporters:
And here’s a bit from the Root’s post, published online this morning:
Portland’s Mayor Charlie Hales issued a statement saying,“Their actions do a disservice to the hundreds of Portland police officers who are building relationships and partnerships with the community every day.”
As for Barnum, who was able to put on a happy face and hug a little black kid, he’s been making the media rounds since the photo has gone viral. In an interview with CNN, Barnum ironically spoke about the need for police departments and African-American communities to build relationships, and he spoke negatively about the protesters in Ferguson.
And later:
You have to wonder if this is just an act for Barnum and a way to gain notoriety. Because liking a profile photo that states “I am Darren Wilson” seems to contradict his views on police officers and their relationship building with black people. Especially when you choose also to side with a police officer who killed a black man and those who support that officer.
Strong work connecting the dots. I knew something weird was happening with that way too famous photo. Hopefully someone in the AP notes Sgt. Barnum’s Facebook activity too….
Not being a police officer, I can’t be sure, but I think when they say “I am Darren Wilson” they are trying to say that any officer put into that position would likely react in a similar fashion. And that each of them are only one politicized action away from being labeled as a racist or “killer cop”.
While this photograph has sparked howling outrage and cynicism from all sides, no one is addressing the more immediate question:
How is this poor kid going to get through middle school in one piece?
That’s what they think they’re saying, I’m sure, but most people who aren’t racist wonder how a cop telling two teenagers not to walk in the middle of the road escalates into a fight. The fact that cops don’t seem to know that saying stuff like, “I feel just awful about what happened to this alive police officer who has a million dollars he didn’t have 4 months ago,” makes you look like you don’t give a shit about black teenagers dying, is a major part of the problem.
Don’t assault a police officer and try to take his gun, and you most likely won’t wind up dead. It’s that simple.
Maybe he supports Wilson and can hug a black kid. The two don’t strike me as mutually exclusive.
It’s a good photo that appeals to people. No need for conspiracy theories.
There are worse ways to be hugged by the Portland Police. See: http://blog.oregonlive.com/news_impact/200…
Blabby, no! You’re either with us or you’re against us! Pick a side and call the other subhuman nazis, that’s the only way we’re ever going to make any kind of REAL progress!
P.S.: Here’s a black bandana and a brick. I presume you know which dumpsters to light on fire to maximize social justice
Please keep Mercury Commenters posted when to show up for the next protest. Hubby’s Uncle Harry is on Christmas leave from Cook County Correctional to visit us for Christmas break. He thinks everyone is after him, and they probably are.
He has begged us not to go to the protest without him. He is 87 years old, and was in the AARP protest in Arizona in 1975 The Big One- Did his time for promoting crime. He has found Jesus Christ, and wants to protest in the name of the little baby Jesus.
He has breathing problems so we hope he doesn’t get chemicals, grenades, or rocket launchers coming his way.
He wants to share his hugs with all of the protestors because he wants to be in the thick of it again,and catch a contact high. He is not into vapes or dabbing. [YET]
The Guardian piece is correct, as far as it goes: The popularity of the photo does stem from the desire to see some “healing” or positive outcome from this whole episode.
But there’s nothing wrong with that, per se. We all want that. It only becomes wrong when it lets us off the hook on addressing the systemic problems that lead to the killings of Michael Brown and other black men by police.
For what it’s worth, I was standing five feet away before, during and after the “hug.” I wached the whole thing unfold, and I believe it was a spontaneous moment between two human beings. If it was contrived in some way, then Sergeant Barnham sure fooled me.
We can accept, and even celebrate “the hug” for what it was –a human moment of positivity in the midst of a tense situation –and still call for change.