Brookline To Raise Banner To Support Black Lives Matter: Greene

BROOKLINE, MA — Chairman of the Board of Selectman Bernard Greene announced the select board would raise a banner on the lawn outside of Town Hall to support the Black Lives Matter movement in the next couple of days.

"This banner is intended to affirm our conviction that Black lives matter and to proclaim our support for the aims of the movement to end police misconduct, to radically reform law enforcement organizations and the criminal justice system, and take steps to end racism and other forms of oppression," he said Tuesday on the town elections show hosted by State Rep. Tommy Vitolo on Brookline Interactive Group.

Read more: Brookline Black Lives Matter March Draws Hundreds To Amory Park

Green praised the largely peaceful demonstrations this weekend in Brookline.

"Except for one incident involving Norfolk County Sheriff's officers who were in crowd control gear without visible identifying badges and caused a stir among many people, including me," he said.

Greene said a number of people expressed alarm at the law enforcement decked out in riot gear just outside of the Brookline Library parking garage across from the police department.

Greene said the Brookline Police Department officials called in the sheriff's agency for crowd control, but they were not supposed to step out of the garage unless there was a need.

"Because their presence can be provocative and frightening," he said. "Unfortunately, because of miscommunication, or a break down in discipline by the Norfolk County officers, at some point they stepped out from inside the garage into the entrance of the garage in plain sight behind the demonstrators. It's a scary situation. Their presence caused real significant tensions."

But, said Greene, thanks to people who stepped forward such as Town Meeting Member Donelle S. O'Neal and uniform Brookline officers, like Sean Williams the situation was deescalated.

Greene praised the Brookline Police Department and the amount of work that has gone into mental health response training.

More: Brookline Black Lives Matter March Draws Hundreds To Amory Park

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, opinion piece.