The Chicago Police Department are currently under investigation by Internal Affairs, as their official Twitter account “liked” a tweet from country musician, Travis Tritt.
The tweet in question saw Tritt calling for a boycott of Anheuser-Busch products after hearing of the company’s partnership with activist, Dylan Mulvaney. After the photo surfaced, a complaint was filed and an investigation has been launched into the matter.
This whole ordeal started when country star Travis Tritt tweeted on Wednesday evening, “I will be deleting all Anheuser-Busch products from my tour hospitality rider. I know many other artists who are doing the same.”
His tweet was followed by another one where he revealed that he was previously sponsored by Budweiser in the 90s when they were still owned by Americans. He then referred to the company becoming unrecognizable to American consumers after being sold out to the Europeans.
The video that sparked the Bud Light controversy was posted by Dylan Mulvaney, who was taking to the internet to brag about a partnership with the beer company
Tritt’s tweets caught the attention of the Chicago PD, who then “liked” his post. On Friday, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Eric Carter tweeted that the department does not tolerate bigotry, and that they take the “liking” of Tritt’s tweet seriously. He further stated that they’ve launched an internal investigation into the matter.
This situation has sparked debates on social media, with some people supporting the Chicago PD’s choice to “like” Tritt’s post, while others think it’s wrong for law enforcement officials to express their political opinions publicly. Some people even accused the police of being transphobic for approving Tritt’s comments. But is this really about transphobia?
No. This is about freedom of speech and the right to express one’s opinion. Tritt, just like everyone else, has the right to boycott any company or product he wants. The police department also has the right to express their opinions. In fact, the department’s Twitter bio reads, “Official Twitter account of the Chicago Police Department. We respond to user-generated inquiries & monitor this account for situational awareness only.”
Therefore, the police department, just like any other organization, has the right to support or oppose any political or social issues, especially when it comes to issues that are crucial to the country’s well-being.
In this case, the Chicago PD didn’t actively promote transphobia by “liking” Tritt’s tweet. They simply expressed their opinion, and the fact that this has sparked outrage proves that our society has become too sensitive and divisive. We must always remember that different opinions exist, and we should allow them to exist. This is what makes our society and democracy function.
However Kid Rock did have an excellent response to this whole situation
The Chicago Police Department’s Twitter account “liking” Tritt’s tweet may have caused some controversy, but it shouldn’t have led to an investigation into the department. The police have the right to express their opinions, especially when it comes to social and political issues. This incident simply highlights how divided and sensitive our society has become, and how certain issues are now considered taboo. The police department showed that they will not tolerate bigotry, but they also have their own opinions and the right to express them. We must learn to accept and tolerate different opinions, and focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us.
Let’s continue this conversation, in the comments below.
