ACAB – All Cops Are Bewildered? NYPD Accidentally Paints ACAB On Cars For Pride
To some, the NYPD provided a much-needed moment of levity when they rolled out some police cruisers with decals that inadvertently read ACAB (a popular anti-police slogan standing for “All Cops Are Bastards), reports Pink News.
An unfortunate oversight
The New York Police Department is facing unintended controversy after several of its vehicles were accidentally painted with an acronym that echoed a popular anti-cop slogan. The incident occurred as the NYPD sought to show support for Pride celebrations in June by adorning their vehicles with vibrant rainbow colours and a message intended to promote inclusivity.
The NYPD’s intention was to paint the vehicles with the slogan “All Colours Are Beautiful,” an affirming statement meant to embrace diversity and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month. However, due to an unfortunate oversight, the resulting acronym on the cars coincidentally matched the well-known anti-police phrase “All Cops Are Bastards” (ACAB).
Onlookers and social media users quickly noticed the unintended alignment between the slogan and the anti-cop sentiment, sparking a wave of gleeful taunting online. For many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically POC, relations with the police are strained at best and tensions between the NYPD and the queer community have simmered for as long as Pride has existed.
The NYPD has done much work since the early days of Pride to distance themselves from the often-violent actions of the past. Rainbow-washing their vehicles during Pride Month doesn’t appear to be an effective tactic for some in the community and calling for real institutional change continues.
As Pride celebrations continue, this incident highlights the ongoing need for open dialogue between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. While unintended, the convergence of the ACAB acronym on the NYPD vehicles, and the subsequent response, shows relationships are still tense between these communities.
