There’s plenty of blame to go around here.
Mayor de Blasio’s initial comments that were perceived, and rightly so, to be sympathetic to protestors certainly precipitated the disproportionate reaction from the police when they turned their backs on the mayor during his speech at Madison Square Park a police graduation, a move that was not constructive and arguably disrespectful.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has tried to manage a balance between the mayor and the police, all the while making clear what a challenge this is.
Against this backdrop, it is clear and obvious that this is no time for polarization or for division.
And it is certainly no time for each side to try to score political points at the expense of the other.
Instead, what we need is an organized and sustained effort to begin the process of reconciliation.
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This effort should not spearheaded by Reverend Al Sharpton, the agitators or the rioters, but with leaders in the black and Hispanic community along with the leadership of the police department and civic leaders in New York.
