Indy Union Boss Criticizes Violent Protests
INDIANAPOLIS — The head of the Indianapolis Police Union says many Americans are frustrated with politically driven ICE protests happening nationwide and locally.
“They’ve come to see this is really about being anti-police, anti-constitution, anti-family, anti-Semitism, anti-American, and anti-God,” Rick Snyder told WIBC’s Hammer and Nigel. “First, we were told it was about what lives mattered, then about LGBTQI+++, then Pro-Palestine and Pro-Hamas.”
Snyder pointed to recent attacks on Jewish people — including someone set on fire in Boulder and another shot in Washington, D.C. — as proof these protests don’t truly support the causes they claim.
He also recently met with President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi alongside other union leaders to discuss the threats local police face.
“But we also talked about the revolving door of criminal justice,” he said, urging the replacement of politically motivated judges with those focused on holding criminals accountable.
Speaking about the smaller protest during the NBA Finals Wednesday and the possibility of more, Snyder said officers are ready to protect the public but reminded everyone they’re still human.
“They’re reliving 2020 right now in their minds and in their spirits.”
On Thursday, the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police released a statement about the downtown protest:
“As Constitutional Law Enforcement Officers we will always protect the rights of Americans to peaceably assemble and petition their government for redress of grievances.
Last night showed it can be done safely and without violence.
On a national stage during one of the most watched sporting events in the world, Indianapolis police stood firm for individual and collective rights and safety.
We applaud our officers, IMPD leaders, and the people of Indianapolis for showing how it should be done.
We hope other major cities will stand with us and make clear that vandalism, violence, and attacks on police officers have no place in a civil society.
Back the Pacers. Back the IMPD. Back the Blue.”
