A New York school district issued an apology on Monday, April 19, after a local police union accused the district of sending an “anti-police message” by reading aloud a book about police shootings to students.
The book, “Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice,” was selected as the book of the month for April at MacArthur Elementary in Binghamton. The story follows how a Black child and a white child respond to a police shooting, and was read aloud by teachers at the school, which serves students from pre-K through fifth grade.
“Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice” was selected as the book of the month for April at MacArthur Elementary in Binghamton, New York. Photo: EmbraceRace.org
BINGHAMTON (WBNG) The Binghamton Police Benevolent Association issued a statement Monday morning regarding Something Happened In Our Town , a book about race that was selected as the April Book of the Month at MacArthur Elementary School.
The book tells the story of two children, one Black and one white, and how they perceive the world through the perspective of their own race.
The Binghamton Police Benevolent Association issued a statement, saying it is concerned the book may leave children with the wrong impression of police officers.
Their entire statement is posted below:
Binghamton City School Administration
The Binghamton Police Benevolent Association and its members were made aware of a video created by school district staff reading the book “Something Happened In Our Town” that was placed on YouTube