Detroit Police Chief Says Will ‘Throw Her A Goodbye Party’ After Rep. Tlaib ‘Reckless’ Comments

In an interview with local news station WJBK Fox 2 in Detroit, Detroit police Chief James Craig had some serious words about Representative Rashida Tlaib’s “reckless and disgusting” comments. “When you look at reckless comments made by those who sit, and I won’ say sit in seats of leadership; I don’t use leadership loosely. But who sits in elected seats of influence, and you make reckless, disgusting comments that do nothing but inflame tensions; that’s not being responsible. That’s not leadership.”

As Chief Craig was making his comments, Fox 2 put one of Rashia Tlaib’s tweets on screen that read: “it wasn’t an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government-funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization, It can’t be reformed.”

The Fox 2 segment then aired a clip of Tlaib what appeared to be amongst protesters where she stated, “and to say that you can police away homelessness, to police away poverty, to police away all these ills in our country right now, that’s not the way to approach it; I’m done.”

Tlaib continued, “The structure in place for policing has left more, more of our Black neighbors and brown communities feeling so incredibly unsafe, and it’s unfair, there’s no accountability. Instead, they’re faced with ya know, just a number of militarization and criminalization.”

Chief Craig responded, “you know what? If I made comments on par with her they’d be calling for my resignation. The news anchor then asks Craig “should Rashida Tlaib resign?” Craig answered, “I would love if she would resign, I’d throw her a goodbye party. I’d have the party Charlie; I’ll throw her a party, let her go.”

Craig continued, “who is she speaking for, Charlie? Let me just say this; when you talk about abolishing police, incarceration, you talk about safe cities, what do you think the residents in Detroit want? I know, I speak with them.” Going back to Tlaib’s comments insinuating she does not speak to directly to the community as does Chief Craig, he added once again that her comments are “reckless, Charlie. So, is she truly representing the people or is she representing a fringe group?”