Memorial Honoring Fallen Police Officers Vandalized In Richmond, Virginia

Police in Richmond, VA, on edge after officers’ memorial vandalized. https://t.co/cqF0hGRfiT pic.twitter.com/zdogYlRVx5

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 14, 2016

CNN — A memorial honoring fallen police officers in Richmond, Virginia was vandalized with red paint, authorities said.

The Richmond Police Memorial statue was vandalized early Wednesday morning, according to authorities. Someone had painted the statue’s face red and marked a red ‘X’ on its chest.

The words “Justice for Alton” were scrawled on the paving stones in front of the statue — apparently in reference to Alton Sterling.

“This is a cowardly act for someone to come and air his or her grievances at a memorial in honor of 28 police officers,” said Richmond Police Chief Alfred Dunham.
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The 8-foot tall bronze statue had recently been moved to the city’s Byrd Park and the site was undergoing a rebuild. It portrays a Richmond Police officer carrying a child who is clutching a teddy bear.

 

 

Really? Painting an X across a policeman holding a child? Really? This memorial honors fallen policeman in Richmond, Virginia that had precisely zero to do with any of today’s racial tension involving law enforcement.

In addition to the statue, the memorial features a plaque listing the names of 28 Richmond police officers killed in the line of duty from 1863 to 2003, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.I’ve said this before — I know that people are upset. I get that. We all get that. But the lack of ability by some people to realize what helps your cause and what doesn’t is shocking. To not be able realize what is connected and what isn’t. To not be able to realize that doing dumb shit like vandalizing a statue honoring fallen police officers will do NOTHING… except weaken your cause, galvanize those who oppose you, and make you look like a dumbass. That’s it. It makes life harder for the people you’re trying to help. Use a brain for me one time and maybe we all could head towards improving things rather than driving both sides further apart.