Former TV journalist-turned-local legislator Rachel Barnhart, who represents Monroe County’s 21st District in New York, is catching attention on social media for giving a speech against the city’s proposal to build three new police stations…
…while standing directly in front of a defaced sign reading “F*** the pigs.”
Barnhart was one of several activists and community leaders who held a rally Tuesday in front of the East Main Street site where local officials have proposed building a new $16 million police station, slamming the project as a waste of money.
“This is not a good use of our money,” said County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, who represents the Beechwood neighborhood. “We can put the brakes on, we can decide to put our resources elsewhere, we can decide to put capital dollars elsewhere.”
But it’s not Barnhart’s words, or her stance against new police stations, that’s catching eyes. It’s the sign directly behind her, which was left up and in full view as the backdrop of her speech. The large sign, which depicts the future layout of the center, has been spray-painted with the words “F*** the pigs,” an all-too-common anti-cop slogan.
Barnhart has defended her standing in front of the sign, saying that she knew what was written behind her, but claiming that she didn’t know the media would show it.
“I was not the host of this event. I knew the sign was there and what was on it. I also had no idea it was visible or that media would show it,” she wrote on Twitter.
Barnhart later wrote that she does "not agree with the message."
I should point I don't know who spraypainted those words - they were there when we arrived. I do not agree with the message. I don't believe calling for redirecting our resources = disparaging police. That is not my belief or approach. https://t.co/MwXDXGCsY7
— Rachel Barnhart (@rachbarnhart) August 18, 2020
Which, of course, is totally believable. After all, why would one ever assume that a massive sign covered in red-lettered profanity located directly behind the speaker would ever pop up in the shot?