Reactions Mixed After Philly’s FOP Endorses Trump
Philly FOP President John McNesby (R). | Photos by AP
Members of Philadelphia’s Fraternal Order of Police union joined more than 300,000 police officers across the country this weekend when the national FOP announced its endorsement of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The Fraternal Order of Police, the country’s largest organization of police officers, announced its “full support” of Trump in a statement released on Friday. The organization’s president, Chuck Canterbury, said he believes Trump has “has seriously looked at the issues facing law enforcement today. He understands and supports our priorities and our members believe he will make America safe again.”
The members have spoken, we have endorsed the @realDonaldTrump for President. #FOPforTrump pic.twitter.com/ENNMRAbmuw
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) September 16, 2016
Trump received a two-thirds majority of the organization’s national board to secure the endorsement.
John McNesby, the president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5, told CBS that the Philadelphia FOP will follow in the organization’s footsteps in endorsing Trump.
McNesby and the Philly FOP criticized Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for her initial speaker lineup at the Democratic National Convention in Philly this July, claiming she had excluded “the widows, and other family members, of Police Officers killed in the line of duty who were victims of explicit, and not implied, racism, and ‘being on duty in blue,'” though the mother of a slain police officer was added to the lineup.
McNesby recently told CBS that Clinton “blew the police off” and has shown little interest in gaining the approval of the union.
Reactions to the endorsement have been mixed:
nope! That really happened & they offered the pitiful excuse that they have 2 follow national office
— Lisa Nelson-Haynes (@momsamango) September 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/rmramos2128/status/777886509093584896
Since the 80s Trump has advocated giving police free reign to use violence w/o oversight. If #Philly #FOP endorses him it reflects on them.
— Adam D. Zolkover (@folklore_adam) September 18, 2016
the FOP endorsed a candidate openly supported by white supremacist. Think about when ur driving in N Philly!
— Josie (@SoftSable79) September 18, 2016
Another reason the FOP endorsed TRUMP! This is all on the Democrats! https://t.co/kcd7EHHygP
— ✞♕In God I Trust♕✞ (@InGodIDoTrust) September 17, 2016
Grew up under the Rizzo regime in Philly, which is one of many reasons why FOP endorsement doesn't surprise me.
— Farah Griffin (@FJasmineG) September 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/JesseFFOE/status/777699622714281984
https://twitter.com/jasonaquest/status/777721727866527744
The Fraternal Order of Police just endorsed Trump? They must've given him that worthless blue card that every white kid in the burbs has.
— Joe Gunn (@PhillyJoeGunn) September 17, 2016
Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter.
