Philadelphia’s police union is angry with Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Convention for giving speaking roles to family members of police shooting victims but not to family members of police officers who died in the line of duty.
John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, told Philadelphia’s local CBS affiliate that the speaker choices were "putting salt in the wound" and promoting an "anti-police movement."
The union also released a statement that it was "insulted" by the exclusion of police widows and family members, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer:
"It is sad that to win an election Mrs. Clinton must pander to the interests of people who do not know all the facts, while the men and women they seek to destroy are outside protecting the political institutions of this country," the statement read. "Mrs. Clinton, you should be ashamed of yourself if that is possible."
The statement came days after the Clinton campaign announced that former President Bill Clinton would speak Tuesday night along with members of Mothers of the Movement, a group that includes Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; and Lezley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown.
Clinton’s campaign responded Wednesday, noting that two members of law enforcement are scheduled to speak at the convention, including former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.