Officers in Garner, North Carolina, were sitting down to eat at a Smithfield’s Chicken’n Bar-B-Q restaurant and were treated to a song by some of the staff and the manager: NWA’s F*** Tha Police.
The Raleigh Police Protective Association union took to Facebook to explain what happened:
THANK YOU Smithfield’s Chicken & Barbecue Jones Sausage location for the class and professionalism as you sang “F- the police” as my brothers at Raleigh Police Department attempted to eat at your restaurant. The manager sang along as well. Do you really feel that was inappropriate?
When the owner of the restaurant, David Harris, heard the news, he issued an apology and vowed to “terminate anyone employed that doesn’t share our RESPECT of ALL law enforcement.”
The union’s initial post received a mixed bag of reactions, mostly of support but also a spattering of comments about free speech and doubt that the incident even happened since no video was published. The president of the union, Matthew Cooper, announced the original post had been deleted, explaining the conversation veered too far past his original intention:
We really appreciate the support we have received from the incident involving Smithfield's Chicken and BBQ. We are confident that a positive resolution will occur as a result from our effort. Currently, the conversation between some people on the previous posts have deviated from our original mission which was to raise awareness to that particular situation and to show what police officers have to face now on a regular basis. For that reason, we decided to delete the original post.
We believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect. Our officers do their best to complete this mission every day.
We are comforted that the community at large has our back. We greatly value your continued loyalty and support in the future.
On Raleigh Police Department’s Facebook page it was announced that Chief Deck-Brown is working with Smithfield’s representatives “collaboratively to resolve the issue” and plans on continuing its “long term and strong relationship” with the eatery.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement.