[TheVrist]

video apparently showing a Chicago police car blasting the song “Sweet Home Alabama” during a recent protest against police violence has sparked a CPD investigation.

Gabriel Michael, a Humboldt Park resident, said he was at the West Side protest Saturday to take photos, but started capturing video once he heard the song coming from what appears to be an unmarked car in the police escort following the marchers.

cComments
TONY10: I used to work for a police department, and many shifts are incredibly boring, especially overnight. Lots of driving around, and not a lot going on. One of the ways our officers kept alert (and quite frankly, broke up the monotony on long nights when no calls came in) was listening...
COMMON_SENSE_ISN'T
AT 1:15 AM DECEMBER 10, 2014
ADD A COMMENTSEE ALL COMMENTS
8

“Some of the lyrics in themselves aren’t racist … but I know it’s also been co-opted by groups, maybe bigoted groups, as an anthem of Southern pride and those Confederate-type values,” said Michael, 30. “That’s what was so jarring to me. To hear that playing from a police car at the end of a protest against police brutality and the murder of African-Americans, it was just jarring.”

The anti-police-violence march was one of several in past weeks after recent announcements that white police officers who killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in New York City—both unarmed African-Americans—will not face charges.


Michael said he has not turned his video over to the police; he received a voice mail from the CPD after the video surfaced but his return call has not yet been returned.

Chicago Police confirmed its investigation in a statement provided to RedEye on Tuesday.

“This matter is under investigation. As a Department, we are committed to community policing and fostering stronger relationships, based on trust and understanding, with the communities we serve,” the statement reads in part.

Michael said that because most of the protesters were marching ahead of the police escort, he’s not sure how many heard the song, but people have echoed his concerns after the video surfaced.

“It’s been positive and supportive,” Michael said of the reaction. “[People] kind of empathize with me. It’s a pretty disgusting thing, it’s really shocking, and we just want to know what [police have] been thinking and get an explanation.”

“Sweet Home Alabama” has been “a kind of neo-Confederate anthem” for years, according to Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization. The 1974 song by Lynyrd Skynyrd was written in response to Neil Young’s song “Southern Man,” which has lyrics about racism and slavery.

Potok dismissed the theory that police were playing the song in support of the University of Alabama football team, which played that day.

“It certainly does look like the officers were taunting the marchers,” he said. “I suppose there’s a tiny chance that these officers were huge University of Alabama fans, but I kind of doubt it.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...html?track=rss

[niknik]

They will see racism in everything.

[Cartwright]

smh...when I read the title of the post I thought the police were playing it cuz it's sort of a country music song which is probably not the protesters choice in music. Remember when they played "These Boots are Made for Walking" non-stop in Waco, to, for lack of a better word, annoy the cult members? I thought it was like that. Never, ever, did I think "Sweet Home Alabama" was racist.

[GRiZ]

Haha I love that move by the cop.

"Hands up, dont shoot"
"Pants up, dont loot!"
"no justice, no peace!"

[TheVrist]

The 1974 song by Lynyrd Skynyrd was written in response to Neil Young’s song “Southern Man,” which has lyrics about racism and slavery.

On a numerical guess, how many out of 100 people, knows this little piece of history?

I would guess, 2-3 people. Certainly not enough to walk around waiting for a golden opportunity to use in a racially driven circumstance.

versus

How many people, out of a 100- knows this song is used in reference to an SEC team called Alabama, during a victory?

When Alabama wins a game, the song is constantly taxed -ALL OVER AMERICA (in sports fans) Simply because of the heavy emphasis of the title "Alabama" repeated several times over, in the song.

[Rednose]

Originally Posted by niknik ↗

They will see racism in everything.

Take a look at the Chicago police cars, every single cruiser is painted in white. There's not one painted in black!

"Sweet home Alabama" was just the beginning.
I'm thinking of a police high speed chase, cop turns on the siren and you hear ........the "Dixie Song" instead

Damn them racist police cars

[niknik]

Originally Posted by TheVrist ↗

On a numerical guess, how many out of 100 people, knows this little piece of history?

I would guess, 2-3 people. Certainly not enough to walk around waiting for a golden opportunity to use in a racially driven circumstance.

versus

How many people, out of a 100- knows this song is used in reference to an SEC team called Alabama, during a victory?

When Alabama wins a game, the song is constantly taxed -ALL OVER AMERICA (in sports fans) Simply because of the heavy emphasis of the title "Alabama" repeated several times over, in the song.

I don't live in Alabama. And I hear Sweet Home Alabama on the radio practically every day. Some old timers at my shop listen to the classic rock station all day long. It's a popular song even to this day.

I think there's a movie called Sweet Home Alabama as well. I'm willing to bet even many blacks like the song, especially ones from Alabama.

[Mr Poo]

Why would cops be blasting any kind of music at a protest?

Sounds like they were trying to stir up the crowd, not by the choice of song but by the action of playing loud music while people are protesting. They are supposed to be there to keep the peace not have a party..

[niknik]

Originally Posted by Mr Poo ↗

Why would cops be blasting any kind of music at a protest?

Sounds like they were trying to stir up the crowd, not by the choice of song but by the action of playing loud music while people are protesting. They are supposed to be there to keep the peace not have a party..

Maybe the cop was tired of listening to the filth yelling obscenities at him.

[Mr Poo]

Originally Posted by niknik ↗

Maybe the cop was tired of listening to the filth yelling obscenities at him.

Maybe, but it's not his job to be blasting music is it? Sounds like he was trying to incite a riot, maybe arrest some of those people yelling. Who knows.. either way, and I myself like the song. I don't find it racist in the least bit, but given the context of a cop playing it loudly directed toward an anti-police protest of prominently blacks gives it a different undertone.