Mayor Regina Romero placed a very large 'BLACK LIVES MATTER" banner on the town hall building at 255 W Alameda. She advised local media that it was in celebration of Juneteenth and to convey that Tucson, Arizona and its community support Black Lives Matter. Juneteenth is an unofficial holiday memorializing the liberation of enslaved Americans in Texas. Black Lives Matter is a movement not a holiday. The two are not connected. 

Many members of the community feel that in light of the recent events surrounding George Floyd and the protesting which has become an attack on law enforcement officers across the nation. The banner does not represent all members of the Tucson community.  Following Mr. Floyd's incident, Atlanta City's Mayor and District Attorney fired a police officer without due process and charged him with capital murder before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation even began their investigation of the incident. This incident has increased the already strained tension between law enforcement, the communities they serve and local government officials. 

Tucson Police and its over 800 public servants are being demonized and vilified by protesters who support the BLM movement. Our city has already suffered a significant blow to its economy due to the extended closure of the City of Tucson in its entirety to Covid19. Protesters within the recent BLM gatherings which have evolved into unlawful assemblies have done $200,000 plus worth of damage to downtown Tucson businesses. 

This banner doesn't reflect celebration of the liberation of slaves in 1865.  It reflects a movement that has critically affected local businesses and injury to both police officers and citizens in their wake. Black Lives Matter has not publicly denied, denounced or condemned the actions of outside protesters functioning under their brand. The banner adds fuel to the division between law enforcement and the Tucson community. Supporters of Tucson Police feel that Mayor Regina, whether intentionally or obliviously, failed to represent all constituents voices by showing partiality to the BLM movement over law enforcement officers within her city and surrounding agencies for political/activist gain.

The banner not reflecting anything about the liberation of slaves in 1865 leaves potential for the banner to remain on the building for an extended time as our nation is currently ripping at the seems with protests that have shifted from Black Lives Matter Justice for George Floyd to Black Lives Matter Defunding/Abolishing police departments nationwide. This banner does not reflect all community member's opinion, support or beliefs in regards to the group branded as Black Lives Matter. 

Tucson residents who recognize and acknowledge that Black lives matter and that also strongly support Tucson Police feel that the banner is insensitive and insulting  to police officers, their families and community members who support them. We were not advised or consulted by Mayor Romero that this banner would be draped on our City Hall. We respectfully ask that Mayor Romero remove the banner entirely or drape the BLUE LINE FLAG alongside the BLACK LIVES MATTER banner. Otherwise, she's misrepresenting and ignoring an overwhelming number of her constituents. 

Respectfully, 

Tucson Police Supporters and citizens who live, work and reside within the Tucson City Limits