Crime & Safety

Somerville Black Lives Matter Banner Will Stay at City Hall

Somerville Police Chief David Fallon told the media today that Mayor Joe Curtatone supports police in the city after letter from union head

SOMERVILLE, MA - The Black Lives Matter banner that has adorned Somerville City Hall for nearly a year will stay up - and the city's police chief supports that.

One day after Michael McGrath of the Somerville police union sent out an open letter addressed to Curtatone calling the banner "demoralizing" for local officers, Police Chief David Fallon addressed the media and said he does not oppose the banner.

"If the mayor feels that sign makes people feel safer or more engaged I'm absolutely for it," Fallon said. "That letter wasn't about taking down the banner but disengaging from the community. If you want to talk national issues and what's going on there needs to be more dialogue not an open letter to the mayor."

Find out what's happening in Somervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Fallon said he would have preferred the union speak to him directly. "I don't think the police department or the union should be involved in politics."

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Somerville