A police union spokesman had harsh words for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio Saturday.
After the shooting deaths of two New York City police officers in Brooklyn, the president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association called out de Blasio, accusing him of contributing to the hatred of police.
“There’s blood on many hands tonight. Those that incited violence on the streets under the guise of protest that tried to tear down what NYPD officers did every day. We tried to warn it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated,” Patrick Lynch said, according to CBS New York.
“That blood on the hands starts at City Hall in the office of the mayor,” he said.
Lynch also added that “who allowed this to happen will be held accountable.”
A video then shows NYPD officers turning their backs on the mayor as he walked through Woodhull Hospital on Saturday for a press conference.
“It’s unfortunate that in a time of great tragedy, some would resort to irresponsible, overheated rhetoric that angers and divides people,” de Blasio spokesman Phil Walzak said.
In a statement released early Sunday morning from vacation in Hawaii, President Obama condemned the killings and asked for prayer and patience.
“Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification,” he said.
“I ask people to reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that heal — prayer,” Obama said in the statement.
NYPD officers Rafeal Ramos and Wenjian Liu were both shot dead Saturday afternoon while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn. Suspect Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who posted on his social media accounts throughout the day about his anger toward police officers for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, then shot and killed himself.
