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Michigan Police Officer Suspended After Driving With Confederate Flag Near Anti-Trump Protest [Video]

Published on: November 14, 2016 at 12:31 AM
By Patricia Ramirez

A Michigan police officer has reportedly been suspended from his duties after an incident involving the “intimidating” display of a Confederate flag. Traverse City police officer Michael Peters is alleged to have driven his pickup, complete with a Confederate flag in all its glory, near and/or around a slew of anti-Trump protesters following last week’s presidential election.

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As ABC News reports, the suspended Michigan police officer was off duty at the time of the alleged Confederate flag incident, and he was suspended with pay. The announcement about the Michigan police officer’s alleged inappropriate conduct and a suspension was made on Sunday by his department’s Police Chief, Jeff O’Brien.

Reportedly, Michigan police officer Michael Peters is now expected to be subjected to an internal investigation into his conduct. According to Chief O’Brien, the Traverse City Police Department is looking into whether the disgraced police officer violated any department rules when he allegedly trolled the anti-Trump protesters with his prominently displayed Confederate flag.

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In addition to announcing the suspension of the Michigan police officer, Chief O’Brien positively identified Peters in a photo that was taken from the rally, which took place on Friday, November 11. When discussing the incident with the local media, Chief O’Brien didn’t mince words when discussing the alleged inappropriate actions of Michigan police officer Michael Peters.

“He is not working as a police officer. I do not condone his actions.”

Since Donald Trump unexpectedly won the American presidential election last week, racially and religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States have skyrocketed in the United States. As TIME reports, in addition to the alleged Confederate flag incident perpetuated by the now- suspended Michigan police officer , the Southern Poverty Law Center has received over 200 reports of racially-motivated hate crimes since Trump became President Elect.

“Since the election, we’ve seen a big uptick in incidents of vandalism, threats, intimidation spurred by the rhetoric surrounding Mr. Trump’s election. The white supremacists out there are celebrating his victory and many are feeling their oats.”

Included among the multitude of reported hate crimes that have allegedly taken place since Trump’s election are incidents of violence, reports of graffiti featuring swastikas and other hate symbols, minority school children being bullied and incidents hate and violence against the LGBT community.

For his part, Donald Trump denounced the hate crimes and racially motivated hate in general during a “60 Minutes” interview which aired Sunday night. While he didn’t address the Michigan police officer suspended for allegedly displaying a Confederate flag directly, Donald Trump did issue a plea for the hate and hate crimes to stop, reports CNN.

“‘I am so saddened to hear that [regarding racial harassment]. And I say, ‘Stop it.’ If it — if it helps, I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: ‘Stop it.’”

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Many Americans view the Confederate flag as a symbol of both hate and racial intimidation, particularly when directed at the African-American community. It is the symbol of the Confederacy – the pre-Civil War Southern States – and since emancipation, it has been increasingly viewed as a racially segregating symbol. To some, it is even perceived as a direct threat.

Reportedly, Michigan police officer Michael Peters was spotted (and photographed) driving around a Friday “Love Trumps Hate” rally in Traverse City with the Confederate flag prominently displayed on his pickup. After circling the rally, the now-suspended Michigan police officer reportedly parked the vehicle near the rally; eyewitnesses to the incident claim that once the Confederate flag-flaunting truck was parked, the driver began drinking a beer.

Traverse City Police Chief Jeff O’Brien has unequivocally denounced the alleged behavior of his police officer, calling it “intimidating.” O’Brien added that police officer Michael Peters’ actions “do not reflect his police department’s mission.”

“We will get through this. The community will get through this.”

Public reaction to the allegedly racially charged, intimidating, and threatening incident has been mixed, and many have taken to social media to share their thoughts.

The suspension of Michigan police officer Michael Peters comes on the fifth day of massive anti-Trump protests, which have swept the nation following Trump’s unexpected yet meteoric rise to the position of President-Elect.

What do you think? Is it appropriate for a police officer to troll protesters with a racially charged and potentially intimidating symbol displayed on his vehicle? Should displaying the Confederate flag be a protected First Amendment right, police officer or not? What are your thoughts regarding the Michigan police officer suspended over his Confederate flag display?

[Featured Image by Graeme Dawes /Shutterstock]

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