The NYPD sergeants union is taking a stand as it says officers are being victimized by what it calls "blue racism."
Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins told Yahoo News that he hopes the concept of blue racism will help ease the tensions between officer and the communities they serve.
"Something is occurring where law enforcement is becoming the target of this national racist issue, this back and forth, and being labeled the bad guy when we're not the bad guy, we're actually the good guy," Mullins told the news outlet.
A video released Sunday night by the Sergeants Benevolent Association claims that police officers are judged not by race or ethnicity but an even broader stereotype.
"The purpose of the video was to highlight blue racism, blue bias, whatever term, and get people to understand that we too feel this bias, racism, no different from the people who've been affected by it for many years," Mullins said. "We don't agree with it. Nobody should agree with it."
Despite the group's efforts to dispel stereotype of law enforcement officers as being biased and racist, some are saying that the term "blue racism" tone deaf.
"The video serves as an instrument for learning," Mullins told Yahoo News. "Maybe other people will look at it and go, 'Wait, maybe we got someone who is willing to listen.' You got this white Irish union leader for police that may get it. So maybe that’s the way to go."
