A New Orleans zoo canceled a six-day event intended to help build a positive relationship between the police and the community after some said it would be “unintentionally divisive.”
“Though that was never the intent, Audubon Nature Institute made the decision to cancel the event,” a statement from the Audubon Nature Institute on Tuesday states, citing the community’s concern.
The zoo will still work with New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation to support the city’s law enforcement despite the “Blue at the Zoo” event’s cancellation.
“Audubon also supports efforts that promote healing between law enforcement and the community. As such, working with the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, Audubon will be considering alternative ways to promote meaningful and impactful community engagement with the New Orleans Police Department,” a statement said.
New Orleans Police Department Chief Shaun Ferguson hit back at the cancellation, saying it is disappointing but adding the department will look at other alternatives.
“Anyone looking at the issue objectively would see that our department is the model for the implementation of the Constitutional policing reforms the public is demanding,” Ferguson said. “Despite the cancellation of this event, we will continue to find ways to work with our community to build a stronger relationship and be the department they deserve.”
The cancellation comes as police departments across the nation stare down a staffing crisis amid a growing anti-police sentiment.
“It’s the perfect storm. We are anticipating that the department is going to be understaffed by several hundred members because hundreds of guys are either retiring or taking other jobs and leaving the department,” said Mike Neilon, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police.
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“Every action has a reaction. When you vilify every police officer for every bad police officer’s decision, [people] don’t want to take this job anymore,” said Pat Colligan, president of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association.
Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter recently updated its list of demands to include calling for former President Donald Trump to be permanently banned from “all digital media platforms” while also staying on message that police be defunded.
