LA Police Union Joins Boycott Of Tarantino For 'Referring To Police As Murderers'
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — The union representing Los Angeles Police Department officers is joining a call to boycott filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's movies.
Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said Tuesday that the union fully supports boycotting Tarantino's movies, a suggestion first made by a police union official in New York.
In a statement, Lally said Tarantino "took irresponsibility to a new and completely unacceptable level this past weekend by referring to police as murderers" during a Saturday protest of police brutality in New York.
"He made this statement just four days after a New York police officer was gunned down in the line of duty," said Lally. "We fully support this boycott of Quentin Tarantino films. Hateful rhetoric dehumanizes police and encourages attacks on us.
Tarantino was among the demonstrators, saying he's "on the side of the murdered," and "if you believe there's murder going on then you need to rise up and stand up against it."
Lally says Tarantino's comments were hateful and inflammatory rhetoric that encourages attacks on police and threatens public safety.
Former LAPD Chief and current New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton also criticized Tarantino for his comments.
"Shame on him, particularly at this time when we are grieving the murder of a New York City police officer," Bratton said Monday during an interview with John Gambling on WNYM-970 AM. "There are no words to describe the contempt I have for him and his comments."
An attorney and an agent listed for Tarantino didn't immediately respond to messages for comment Tuesday.
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