David Kennedy, President of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA) asked Governor Tom Wolf to issue an apology for remarks he made toward police in a letter to state employees over the Juneteenth holiday.
Wolf’s letter informed employees that Friday, June 18 would be a state holiday this year. Juneteenth, an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, has been officially observed in Pennsylvania since 2019.
Wolf said in the letter that “Juneteenth is a celebration of the progress we have made as a nation towards equality and justice for all. Sadly, the continued death of African Americans at the hands of police and rise in violent attacks against Asian Americans are painful reminders that racism and intolerance are still with us today. This Juneteenth we have an opportunity to unite against injustice and create lasting change that will make Pennsylvania and our nation a better place for everyone.”
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Wolf’s letter was criticized by PSTA President David Kennedy. “Pennsylvania state troopers support the Juneteenth holiday. But for Gov. Wolf to use his platform to further push a false narrative that police are racist murderers is nothing less than the worst kind of political pandering,” Kennedy said in a statement obtained by PennLive.com. “It only serves to further divide our nation at the expense of officers who already work incredibly dangerous jobs.”
The Troopers Association is seeking an apology from their governor for his remarks.“Gov. Wolf, you owe all law enforcement officers, troopers and their loved ones an apology. A real apology,” Kennedy said.
Gov. Wolf ’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
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