NYC Police Watch Gibson Film for 'Hate'

NewsMax ^ | 3/2/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Reports that cops from New York City's Hate Crimes unit were sent to see Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" to learn if it inspires hatred have a top Catholic civil rights leader demanding answers from NYPD officials as to what and who was behind the screwball assignment.

According to the New York Post, Hate Crimes Unit supervisor Inspector Dennis Blackman ordered the 20 detectives under his command to see the film after it opened last week.

A source told the Post that cops feared that someone who already held strong anti-Jewish views or was a religious zealot could be pushed over the edge by watching the film.

However the same sources reported that there had not been any increase in anti-Semitic bias crimes since the movie opened Wednesday.

The Post quoted one detective who had viewed the film as saying "It was beneficial to understand what all the hype was about."

After the Post raised questions about the official assignment of police officers to watch the movie while on duty, the NYPD asked the cops to see it on their own time, voluntarily, and not because they were ordered to attend screenings.

The story raised the hackles of Dr. William Donohue, President of the Catholic League.

In a blistering letter Donohue told NYPD Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly he wanted to know what provoked the ill-advised monitoring of a film by NYPD detectives.

Wrote Donohue "There is a story in the March 2 edition of the New York Post claiming that Hate Crimes Unit supervisor Dennis Blackman ordered 20 detectives to see 'The Passion of the Christ' when it opened last week; some watched the movie during working hours.

"Accordingly, I would like to know the answer to the following questions: a) Is it common practice for detectives of the NYPD to watch movies during working hours? b) What prompted the request? c) What criteria are used to assess whether this is a useful function for the police to provide? d) What is the purpose of such an exercise? e) What exactly would the police be empowered to do if they determined the film constituted hate speech?"

It should be noted that in New York City it is also now a minor crime for a business to harbor contraband ash trays in their establishments.

City snoops routinely swoop down in Gestapo like lightening raids in an effort to seek out and confiscate dangerous ash trays and fine their owners.

[doug from upland]

Isn't morphing Bush into Hitler a hate crime?

[verity]

Observation. :~)

[Happy2BMe]

"Reports that cops from New York City's Hate Crimes unit were sent to see Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" to learn if it inspires hatred have a top Catholic civil rights leader demanding answers from NYPD officials as to what and who was behind the screwball assignment."

Are you believing THIS!! ?? !!

[SJackson]

Are you believing THIS!! ?? !!

Give them the benefit of the doubt. For all we know they go to movies a couple times a week. /sarcasm

[HiTech RedNeck]

According to the New York Post, Hate Crimes Unit supervisor Inspector Dennis Blackman ordered the 20 detectives under his command to see the film after it opened last week.

Good, I hope every cop in the country "investigates" this movie :-)

[HiTech RedNeck]

this ain't a party movie

[MeekOneGOP]

[Clock King]

Given that we live is a society that values "freedom of expression" and "free speech", I wonder what these cops really do. I'm not naive about hate crimes. They are real, but they have also been politicized. Assume they did find anti-Semiticism in The Passion, then what? Ban they movie from the city? Ban they DVD from entering NY when it comes out? I mean, this "unit" is paid to investigate real crimes, not become the American version of "religious police" (as seen in Saudi Arabia).

[Arpege92]

"Assume they did find anti-Semiticism in The Passion, then what?"

What do you mean? Do you actually believe that these cops would try to shut down this movie if they did find anti-Semiticism? Their watching of this movie has nothing to do with our freedom to watch it. They have seen this movie simply to understand what so many of the non supporters of this movie have been screaming about.

"Ban the movie from the city?"

They have no power what so ever to do such a thing.

"Ban the DVD from entering NY when it comes out?"

Again....they have no power to ban this movie or any other movie from the city of NY, the state of NY or even the United States of America.

"I mean, this 'unit' is paid to investigate real crimes, not become the American version of 'religious police' (as seen in Saudi Arabia)."

True....they are paid to investigate real crimes, but they are also paid to try and prevent a hate crime from happening.....and that does not mean they can shut down this movie, they are only trying to understand what so many liberals have been saying about this movie. Do you understand now? :-}

[firebrand]

There's a poster on the bus shelters that says "Crazy Even by New York Standards." Great joke to play on somebody: "Back up a little more, OK now a little to the right, OK now smile your wackiest smile . . ."

[verity]

lol