Politics

John Conyers: State Police Director 'Entitled to Her Wrong-Headed, Spiteful Opinion'

September 28, 2017, 1:24 PM by  Allan Lengel

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Rep. John Conyers: "Her comments . . . were completely inappropriate."

U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Detroit weighs in on the latest controversy involving Sate Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, who posted a meme on Facebook disparaging NFL players who take a knee during the National Anthem. 

A release from his office Thursday is headlined "Conyers: Michigan Needs a New State Police Director:"

Michigan needs a Michigan State Police Director who understands the very real issue of racial injustice and the blatant disparities that African-Americans face within our criminal justice system and at the hands of some ill-willed law enforcement officers.

Instead of bashing the protests, Etue should be looking to address the reason for the protests in the first place, by working with the Michigan police force and the communities they protect and serve to improve relations.

If Etue cannot complete that mission, she should stand down.

He adds"

I have been defending the ideal symbolized by the American flag for my entire adult life. Here in the U.S. Congress since 1965; before that as a state official; and before that as an officer in the United States Army serving in the Korean Conflict.  When I went off to war, the country I fought for was far from realized: in Korea I was an officer and a gentleman; at home I was a second-class citizen.  But still I fought, because our country is about so much more than a flag or an anthem.  It is about a great struggle, centuries in the making, to make a more perfect union.

Michigan State Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue is entitled to her wrong-headed, spiteful opinion. However, her comments in regards to NFL players protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem were completely inappropriate, unbefitting an officer of the state of Michigan, and raise practical concerns about her ability to enforce the laws of our state and country."

She reposted a Facebook item referring to NFL players as "degenerates" for kneeling.

The meme also calls the sports figures protesting the anthem as “millionaire ingrates who hate America and disrespect our armed forces and veterans.”

She later since apologized.

Gov. Rick Snyder indicates he has no plans to fire her.



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