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Chicago officers face reprimand for taking a knee in Instagram post

Posted at 10:49 PM, Sep 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-26 22:49:33-04

Two Chicago officers could be reprimanded after an Instagram post shows the black officers, who have not been identified, taking a knee and holding up a fist with a community activist, the Chicago Tribune reports

The post, Chicago Police claim, violates the department's policy involving political activity while on duty. 

"We are aware of the photo and we will address it in the same way we have handled previous incidents in which officers have made political statements while in uniform, with a reprimand and a reminder of department policies," Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for the Chicago Police Department told the Chicago Tribune. 

Aleta Clark posted the photo on Instagram on Sunday, the same day that dozens of NFL players knelt during the national anthem. The protests, which started in 2016 by Colin Kaepernick, reached a fever pitch on Sunday after President Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets directed toward NFL players. 

Kaepernick said the reason he sat during the national anthem was due to law enforcement's treatment of blacks in America.

"That Moment when you walk into the police station and ask the Men of Color are they Against Police Brutality and Racism & they say Yes... then you ask them if they support Colin Kapernick... and they also say yes... then you ask them to Kneel!" Clark's Instagram post read. 

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the police department's policy "is consistent." 

“They were somewhat betwixt, between two different aspirations,” Emanuel said on Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Clark later told reporters that she stands behind the officers in the photo.

"I am going to get other people to stand behind you," she said. "You stood for us. Even with the shield, even working for the police department, you are still human and still recognize that racism still exists and police brutality is real. And you stood against that."