Miami's police union reacted to the city's chief police officer Friday by posting a photo of Art Acevedo making the same gesture he suspended last week for using a hand signal that is often associated with white power extremists.
The caption that appears above the photo was posted to the Miami Fraternal Order of Police's Twitter page: "Do as I say, not as I do."
Acevedo was not able to comment because he was at a conference on Friday. He referred questions to Troy Finner, Houston Police Chief, who was present when the photo was taken. The chief also claimed that Acevedo's gesture was misinterpreted, just as Acevedo did.
Finner stated that this one was originally from Houston and was meant to be a support sign for George Floyd, whose death at hands of a Minnesota officer sparked Black Lives Matter protests.
Finner claimed that the signal was formed by raising three fingers from each hand while raising circles of thumbs, forefingers and forefingers. It was captured a little over three weeks after Floyd's death and while Acevedo had been chief in Houston.
Finner said, "I was there that day." It was a celebration for George Floyd.
The photo was taken on June 2020 at Houstons Jack Yates Junior High School. It is located in Houston's historic, predominantly Black Third Ward. Floyd attended school there.
According to Finner, the hand gesture is a sign of pride for the Third Ward. Locals refer to it as Chalkin Up the Threes or University of Miami students making the U symbol using their thumbs and forefingers.
Finner said that these people are very proud. They asked Finner to bring up the Third Ward sign, which he did.
Floyd's death, which occurred under the knees of Minnesota Police Officer Derek Chauvin in nine painful minutes that were captured on cellphone video, was the culmination of some of the most significant civil rights protests in American history.
Acevedo posted Acevedo's year-old photo on his Twitter page. He criticized the original poster and was offended.
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Acevedo removed Miami Police Officer Daniel Ubeda from the force. Meanwhile, internal affairs examines a photo Ubeda took with six members of his squad. It shows Ubeda making the exact same gesture as the chief.
Reyes claimed that the photo, which was posted to Twitter by Ubedas commander, was a joke among the squad that refers itself as the B Shift Six. However, according to the Anti-Defamation League the sign for okay, which is centuries old, was used several years ago to represent white power.
Reyes, who released two weeks ago a letter criticizing the chief for his rigid views on the need to vaccine officers, called Ubedas suspension another knee jerk reaction of Acevedo.
Ubeda was the same officer who was reprimanded for wearing a mask to support Donald Trump last October while on duty at Government Center's voting site. A department investigation found that Ubeda had violated department procedures and courtesy policies.
