Activists call for firing of LAPD employees involved in George Floyd Valentine-themed photo scandal
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A coalition of community activists Monday is calling for the firing of any Los Angeles Police Department employee who created or circulated a Valentine-themed social media post featuring an image of George Floyd that allegedly included the words "You take my breath away."
LAPD investigates George Floyd Valentine-style photo
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched an internal investigation after a photo allegedly began circulating around the department depicting the death of George Floyd.
RELATED: LAPD investigating claim of George Floyd Valentine-style photo passed around department
Community activist Najee Ali said during the press conference late Monday morning that they’re "not here to condemn or attack LAPD" and that they "simply want to hold them accountable."
Ali is also a spokesman for Attorney Ben Crump who represents the Floyd family.
"Any LAPD employee mocking the death of George Floyd should be terminated immediately," Ali said.
The Floyd family, who is still grieving his death, is also asking that those involved be terminated.
"It’s scary knowing that we have racists that may come into our community are in charge of policing Black people," Ali said.
Floyd died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer handcuffed him, pinned him to the ground and then knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes as he repeatedly said, "I can't breathe."
SUGGESTED: News related to the death of George Floyd
Ali said the photo scandal is painful and that Floyd's death still hurts.
Also on Monday, the Board of Directors for the LA Police Protective League issued the following statement:
"The Los Angeles Police Protective League repudiates this abhorrent image and anyone associated with its creation, dissemination, or passive observation of it. If that image was created, "liked," or shared by a member of the LAPD, the Chief of Police must act swiftly to hold those individuals accountable. There must be zero tolerance for this behavior in our profession, and any police officer who feels the need to be part of any online group that engages in, promotes, and/or celebrates this type of activity should quickly rethink their career choice because they clearly don't have the judgment, nor temperament, to be a member of law enforcement."
Los Angeles Police Department officials said they launched an internal investigation after an officer complained about the image and alleged it was being circulated within the department. The complaining officer was scheduled to be interviewed Monday, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said.
LAPD investigating George Floyd Valentine-themed photo
A coalition of community activists Monday will call for the firing of any Los Angeles Police Department employee who created or circulated a Valentine-themed social media post featuring an image of George Floyd.
The coalition of activists, headed by Project Islamic Hope, have scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference outside LAPD's Harbor Community Police Station to ask for a meeting with Moore, and to call for the termination of any LAPD (employee) who shared this image mocking Floyd's killing.
"It's despicable and outrageous that there are LAPD employees who are in the workplace mocking the police murder of George Floyd, who died in May after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground under the knee of Derek Chauvin, who was then a police officer in Minneapolis," said Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope.
Reports of the image, and the subsequent complaint within the LAPD, first surfaced Friday, two dayS before Valentine's Day.
Screencaps of the image allegedly referred to in the internal LAPD complaint, and posted on Twitter and elsewhere, shows a picture of Floyd on a pink background surrounded by hearts with the words "You take my breath away" and Valentine-style spaces to designate who it is being sent "to" and "from."
It was unclear whether this is the same image that prompted the LAPD complaint.
LAPD HQ, an official department account, tweeted at 8:30 p.m. Saturday: "The Department has become aware of allegations that an image was being passed around the department and this image was in the workplace. There are also allegations that the post with the image was authored by a department employee."
The tweet continued: "A personnel complaint has been initiated and we are pursuing each allegation including interviewing the department member who brought it to our attention."
Video of Floyd pinned to the ground by Minneapolis police sparked weeks of nationwide protests.
RELATED: Hundreds of protesters gather in downtown LA to rally against death of George Floyd
A county medical examiner later ruled his death was a homicide, saying Floyd died of "cardiopulmonary arrest." An independent autopsy determined he died of "asphyxiation from sustained pressure."
FOX 11's Kelli Johnson contributed to this report.
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.
Watch: 33-foot vessel sinks off Florida Coast after being stuck on a sandbar
Flagler County Fire Rescue (FCFR) located the nearly half-submerged vessel and safely transported its solo occupant back to the dock.
33-foot vessel sinks off Florida Coast
A man was safely rescued late Thursday night after his 33-foot sailboat ran aground on a sandbar and began taking on water in Flagler County.
Orlando Weather Forecast: Weekend rain chances
Weather Friday night will be cloudy with a few showers, but not nearly as heavy as Thursday night. Temperatures rest in the 70s as temperatures are expected to heat up for the weekend. Beachgoers should expect rip current threats with two to four feet high.
75 lost sea turtles hatchlings rescued by Florida deputies
Volusia County deputies helped rescue 75 lost baby sea turtles. Sea turtle hatchlings use moonlight to guide themselves towards the ocean. However, artificial lighting can confuse their instincts, causing them to move inland toward roads instead of the ocean. Deputies helped collect the lost turtles and contacted Volusia County, who helped get them back to the ocean.
Beachgoers share concerns of AI cameras in Brevard County
Cameras at public beach access points in Melbourne Beach are facing new pushback. Beachgoers are worried about privacy and where the footage is going and being stored. The town says they’re installed to monitor rescue rings and prevent theft.
Volusia County debuts AI metal detectors in schools
Middle schools in Volusia County will screen students through AI metal detectors. While school officials say safety is their top priority, they say the metal detectors have been "well-received" by the community and families. With artificial intelligence, the device can detect the "difference between a water bottle a weapon," FOX 35's Chris Lindsay demonstrated.
Orlando weather: Steady breeze, clouds, showers across Central Florida
Weather Friday night will be cloudy with a few showers, but not nearly as heavy as Thursday night. Temperatures rest in the 70s as temperatures are expected to heat up for the weekend. Beachgoers should expect rip current threats with two to four feet high.
Palm Bay orders immediate suspension of FLOCK cameras
The city of Palm Bay is suspending its FLOCK cameras system after a city manager determined the cameras may not have been properly permitted. The system is not suspended pending the completion of the review.
Palm Bay suspends license plate cameras over permitting, installation concerns
The City of Palm Bay immediately suspended its license plate reader cameras – sometimes referred to as Flock cameras – following concerns that the cameras may have been installed without the proper city permits.
Dad of DeLand double homicide suspect arrested
Police have arrested the father of a 17-year-old accused of shooting and killing two teenagers in downtown DeLand. Daytron Etkins, 41, is accused of helping his son after the alleged shootings and "took steps intended to help him evade law enforcement," police said.