Los Angeles Times
As part of a labor dispute with the city, a Boston police union is urging police officers from around the country and Democratic leaders to boycott the Democratic National Convention in July.
Complaining of inadequate staffing to handle the security demands of the event, along with unresolved contract negotiations, Boston police officers last week detailed plans to protest the July 26-29 convention.
“There will be an expectation that the line not be crossed,” said Thomas J. Nee, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Assn. “I know Democrats do not do that. That’s the protocol.”
Using a new website, www.boston04.net , association members are recruiting police officers nationwide to join their picket lines. Los Angeles officers have thrown their symbolic support behind the effort.
“The fact is that we all belong to National Assn. of Police Organizations,” said Bob Baker, the president of the 9,200-member Los Angeles Police Protective League. “When we’ve been in times of need they’ve supported us,” he said. “We certainly have firsthand knowledge of the strain a Democratic convention can put on a city.” The 2000 Democratic National Convention took place in Los Angeles.
Organizers said they hoped to recruit 300,000 police union members nationwide.