Philly police union slams Clinton over DNC speakers

Philadelphia’s police union is criticizing Hillary Clinton for the lineup of speakers expected at the Democratic National Convention.

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak Tuesday night alongside members of Mothers of the Movement, a group of relatives of black men killed by police. Speakers include the mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Sandra Bland.

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has accused Clinton of failing to include the relatives of slain police officers.

John McNesby, president ofLodge 5, said the union was “shocked and saddened” by the scheduled speakers for the convention, which opens Monday.

“The Fraternal Order of Police is insulted and will not soon forget that the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton are excluding the widows and other family members of police officers killed in the line of duty who were victims of explicit and not implied racism,”McNesby said in a statement.

It’s “sad that to win an election Mrs. Clinton must pander to the interests of people who do not know all the facts, while the men and women they seek to destroy are outside protecting the political institutions of this country. Mrs. Clinton, you should be ashamed of yourself, if that is possible,” McNesby continued.

Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner and former Washington, D.C. Police ChiefCharles Ramsay is also scheduled to speak.

On the recent spate of violence against police officers and against black men, Ramsay said earlier thismonth that the nation is “sitting on a powder keg.”

Ramsay also said he fears “some incident” will take place at the Republican National Convention or the DNC.

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Formas told CBS3, “As Hillary Clinton has said, we need to support heroic police officers who put their lives on the line every day as well as listen to the voices of mothers who have lost their children. We look forward to highlighting the courageous efforts of law enforcement with speakers at our convention, including from Pennsylvania, and praising their work to keep our communities safe.”

According to CBS3, a former NYPD detective who rescued people on September 11, Joe Sweeney, will also address delegates.