An editorial cartoon run last weekend by the Levittown-based Bucks County Courier Times has placed the newspaper under fire from local and regional law enforcement groups.
The editorial cartoon that depicted a group of African-American children asking Santa to keep them safe from the police has caused a firestorm.
Credit: Bucks FOP
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On Wednesday, the Bucks County Fraternal Order of Police and the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police both issued statements on the cartoon that offended many in the law enforcement community.
The Bucks FOP stated the cartoon, which was featured on an editorial page, “promoted mistrust between citizens and police.”
The statement further read:
By doing so they intentionally or unintentionally fanned the flames of racial divide by painting Law Enforcement with a broad biased brush.
Our membership has contacted and given the Courier staff sufficient time to print an apology for this distasteful content and were basically told to get over it.
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Later in the day, the president of the Philadelphia FOP sent a letter to the editor of the newspaper.
Philadelphia FOP head John McNesby called the cartoon “highly offensive” and “disrespectful.” McNesby also called for the newspaper to apologize.
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“There is a special place in hell for miserable parasites in our media who seek to exploit violence and hatred to sell advertisements,” McNesby said. He finished by wishing the newspaper a “bankrupt New Year.”
Several law enforcement officers and firefighters from around Levittown have stated in person and online that they are unsubscribing from the newspaper. The newspaper has already seen declining print circulation and a shrinking reporting staff over the past decade.
Aside from responses on social media, Courier Times executive editor Patricia S. Meagher-Walker wrote an open letter “to our readers” on the newspaper’s website.
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“Our Editorial Page is a forum for opinions, even controversial ones. Letters, cartoons and guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of our editorial board, rather that of the author or artist, Meagher-Walker stated.
“Those who subscribe to this newspaper understand our commitment to the community and our steadfast support for law enforcement and those who work very hard to make Bucks County a better place to live. We are united in that effort,” she wrote in the note.
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The newspaper’s Facebook rating page has seen the addition of several negative ratings and comments ripping the publication, which is owned by Calkins Media, for running the cartoon.
Meagher-Walker and another editor at the newspaper did not respond to LevittownNow.com’s request for comment on the cartoon and its origins.
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