The head of the NYPD detectives union says the House recently defended “Squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s decision to induct cop killer and fugitive Joanne Chesimard into the Bronx Middle School Hall of Fame when he was principal. He said that a resolution should be passed to censure the lawmaker.
“We do not believe that Mr. Bowman represents modern or enlightened values, and he himself is a disgrace to his profession,” Detective Fund Association President Paul DiGiacomo said Monday. This was stated in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Bowman was recently asked in a community forum whether he regrets praising Assata Shakur, also known as Chesimard, a black extremist who is on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.
Chesimard was convicted along with two others in 1973 for the execution-style murder of New Jersey state police officer Werner Förster, before escaping from prison and fleeing to Cuba.
“Who are you to tell someone about their own history and how they should relate to the people in their history?” Bowman said at the Feb. 21 Yonkers 3rd Precinct Regional Council meeting.
asked Marty Dolan, one of two Democratic senators challenging the incumbent for a second term in this year’s Democratic primary.
“I had black and Latino students at my school,” Bowman said in the videotaped exchange. “We tried to teach as much as we could about Black and Latino history, the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Bowman has already been accused by the House of Representatives of setting off a fire alarm at a Capitol office building last year in an effort to delay a vote to avert a government shutdown.
“The question is not how he personally handled black history, but what perverted concepts he was teaching other people’s children,” DEA’s DiGiacomo said in a speech. This was stated in a letter addressed to the
He said it is inexcusable to glorify police killers rather than the many other accomplished Black and Latino leaders from all walks of life.
“What a shameful nightmare for parents, especially in the Bronx, which has high crime rates, including gun violence and childhood and teen deaths,” union leaders said.
“We believe that Mr. Bowman’s actions and words are condemnable. His words stand in the way of our mission to protect those who are victimized every day, especially by the senseless violence that pervades our society. It is a disgrace to the men and women of law enforcement who bear the brunt of this.”
Bowman, who represents the 16th Congressional District, which includes much of Westchester County and part of the Bronx, faces a stiff challenge in the primary from Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
The newspaper has reached out to Bowman for comment.
