Jim Pasco, the head of the Fraternal Order of Police of New York City, has long been known for his … less than politick comments. But now he may have gone too far. He is promising a “surprise” for Quentin Tarantino between now and the premiere of Tarantino’s new movie.
I’m not one who is normally for union busting, but this is one I want completely destroyed. Fortunately, he seems to be doing it for us. He already tried to force a boycott that many NYPD officers rejected.
Hell, I think he’s already went too far. That’s a terroristic thread. Let’s get some FBI in there and arrest him.
I’m mostly on Tarantino’s side of the issue, but I can’t help but see him as just a narcissistic movie guy, rolling into this debate and making it all about him. Celebrity support can do a movement more harm than good.
But the police unions, yeah, they lost my respect long ago.
Just so we’re clear, on October 24, the film director Quentin Tarantino participated in a rally and protest against police brutality. During that event, he said, “I’m a human being with a conscience. And if you believe there’s murder going on then you need to rise up and stand up against it. I’m here to say I’m on the side of the murdered.”
The objection appears to be that he used the word “murderer” to refer to police officers. But law enforcement officers have been charged with murder in the deaths of Freddie Gray and Walter Scott (and manslaughter in the death of Eric Harris). So he’s not wrong.
The elements of the movement that organized the New York march, Rise Up October, contacted him, on the basis of some general remarks he made in some less-publicized forum, and asked if he would appear. Tarantino has never been involved with a similar demonstration before; there is no reason to see him as choosing to inject himself into the debate in any self-aggrandizing way.
It is the police spokesmen (actual and self-appointed) who are making this about Tarantino, or trying to.
What sort of consequences? An effective boycott of his film (unlikely, if only because being a Tarantino production people will stay away because it’s total crap)? Or do you believe that something will happen to Tarantino himself?
Free speech does have consequences. Among them is the continued exercise of that right by everyone, even those with unpopular views. It may have adverse economic consequences if the views expressed are, in fact, very unpopular. But your remark sounds rather like a different sort of threat.
“It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either.”
Tarantino did not call all cops murderers. He called murderers murderers.
Jesus, these people are too stupid to carry weapons.
QT has been making the rounds on all the talk shows and he is surprisingly articulate and well spoken. Misunderstanding what he said, is a choice these people are making and it’s idiotic. Stop defending bad cops. No one is insulting good cops.