NAPO Washington Reports

NAPO Letter to NYC Mayor Regarding Cop-Killer Joanna Chesimard as Part of Public School Curriculum

February 4, 2021
View this Washington Report as a PDF


February 4, 2021

 The Honorable Bill de Blasio
Mayor of the City of New York
City Hall
New York, New York 10007

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

On behalf of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), I am writing to you to condemn the invocation of convicted murderer and cop-killer Joanne Chesimard (a.k.a. Assata Shakur) in the Black Lives Matter at School week of action in which New York City public schools are participating this week.

NAPO is a coalition of police associations from across the United States that serves to advance the interests of America’s law enforcement officers. Founded in 1978, NAPO now represents more than 1,000 police units and associations and 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.

Joanne Chesimard is the only woman on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list for her role in the cold-blooded killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973. The fact that she is quoted on the home page of the Black Lives Matter at School as a leader to follow is an affront to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities as law enforcement officers – above all to the family and friends of police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

By quoting Joanne Chesimard as part of their program, Black Lives Matter at School are condoning and promoting that violence and killing a law enforcement officer is a responsible way to affect change. This is a message that is being promoted to public school students in your city. As the mayor of one of our nation’s largest cities, the officers who serve the City of New York and the broader law enforcement community count on you to stand up for and support the men and women who risk their lives every day to ensure our neighborhoods and communities are safe. You cannot do so unless you repudiate everything for which Joanne Chesimard stands. There is no way to delink Chesimard from the role she played in the execution-style killing of State Trooper Foerster or the fact that she is now a wanted fugitive living free in Cuba while no justice has been brought to Trooper Foerster’s family for his murder.

Sincerely,

Michael McHale President