Ex NYPD officer reacts to #blackbrunch by going for his gun

A number of Black activist groups in the USA have started a movement that combines social media and old fashioned protest to draw attention to the police killings of Black Americans.

The hashtag #blackbrunch is being used by protesters who interrupt mid day meals at several restaurants. They recite the names of African Americans killed by police, security guards or vigilantes.

The purpose of Black Brunch is to take the message of the number of Black Americans being killed to a new demographic group - wealthy and predominately white.

We march, chant and sing together as we claim space in areas that are predominantly non-Black,"

according to the BlackOUT Collective, one of the groups behind the protests.

Thousands of people have tweeted under the #blackbrunch and #blackbrunchnyc tags over the last few days. But here's the thing…several of the most popular comments were critical of the protests, and some reveal the shocking racial divide that still scars the US.

Take a look at this page of the BBC website to get some idea of the reaction, and in particular the tweet posted by an ex New York City police officer, John Cardillo. He is pointing his handgun at the laptop camera, and thus to all who see the photograph. It speaks volumes about what's wrong with the US…a former NYC cop is angry about the protest, particularly as he is upset at the dreadful murders of two of his ex-colleagues and so he reverts to…his gun. It shows a mindset that no human being should have, least of all someone who's former job was to protect his fellow citizens.

But, this being the US, and Cardillo being a former US policeman, he vents his anger by pointing his gun into the eyes of everyone who sees his tweet, making it all the easier to understand why so many people are killed by fearful police officers.

Cardillo's sick tweet was just one of many that expressed anger and ignorance at the Black Brunch protest, but that hasn't stopped the organisers from continuing with their protests.

We offer our support and praise their stance…

Paul Hensby