Why NYPD paid Spike Lee $200k for ad campaign to improve relationship between police and community
The NYPD is paying director Spike Lee more than $200,000 for a leading role in helping facilitate the relationship between cops and the Black community through a new policing programs.
Given the onslaught of police shooting of unarmed black men in recent years, New York City’s own history of racial profiling by officers and Lee’s own criticism of the department this seems like an odd pairing.
Lee’s 1989 movie Do the Right Thing was ahead of its time, tackling the tenuous race relations in Black communities. Lee ended his movie with a character Radio Raheem, getting choked to death by police. In recent years, Lee drew a comparison to his movie character and the choking death of Eric Garner.
“The Foundation approached and consulted several creative teams including the Spike DDB agency to help develop a public awareness campaign that would aim to strengthen the partnership between the NYPD and the communities it serves,” said spokesman Brady Littlefield.
“We received tremendous input and ideas, and that process ultimately resulted in last spring’s neighborhood policing ad campaign.”
Lee’s advertising firm, Spike DDB, will reportedly receive approximately $219,113, which will be funded by the Police Foundation.
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