Just before 2pm EDT, the New York City Police Department called via Twitter for photos of citizens with its officers. Almost immediately the campaign #myNYPD seemed to backfire, as users flooded the hashtag with photos decrying alleged police brutality.
Do you have a photo w/ a member of the NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD. It may be featured on our Facebook. pic.twitter.com/mE2c3oSmm6
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 22, 2014
The #myNYPD hashtag trended nationwide not long after the above NYPD tweet.
#myNYPD shot 9 innocent bystanders near the Empire State Bldg just to get one guy pic.twitter.com/5e1dZLnri2
— Copwatch (@Copwatch) April 22, 2014
Scooters and #myNYPDpic.twitter.com/ImtLm8aQvR
— Adrian Kinloch (@adriankinloch) April 22, 2014
NYPD officers are known worldwide for their timely and hands-on response to citizen grievances. pic.twitter.com/wuJ8uicGgE#myNYPD
— Stop The Wars (@sickjew) April 22, 2014
Homeless and sleeping in a synagogue? #MyNYPD has an ass kicking answer! #ForShame! pic.twitter.com/9DIL07bYKk
— Doc Rocket (@DocR0cket) April 22, 2014
how #myNYPD treats 16 year olds who say "no" to being stopped and frisked: https://t.co/awb00Qxeonpic.twitter.com/MhyArnHKXK
— DefendedInTheStreets (@KimaniFilm) April 22, 2014
Every white shirt has to get in on the brutality, right @NYPDnews#myNYPDpic.twitter.com/bnXw0y6Uch
— [OAKLAND]ASM (@OLAASM) April 22, 2014
Do you have a photo w/ a member of the #NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD. It may be featured on their Facebook! pic.twitter.com/Ps7rThxgNw
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) April 22, 2014
I love when y'all pull us over and ask where we are going. Always concerned if Black people are lost! Heroes! @NYPDnews#myNYPD
— zellie (@zellieimani) April 22, 2014
#MyNYPD broke this 10 y.o.'s leg for filming them, then sexually assaulted mom http://t.co/nSfzHvXnz2pic.twitter.com/axZUzH18Cx
— Up the Rebels (@occbaystreet) April 22, 2014
The hashtag gave users an opportunity to recall several individuals involved in major cases of NYPD brutality, false accusations, or extrajudicial execution, including Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Ramarley Graham, Abner Louima, Kimani Gray, the Central Park Five, and a peaceful Occupy Wall Street demonstrator - Cecily McMillan - who is currently on trial and may face years in prison despite being beaten into a seizure by officers back in 2012.
#myNYPD raped & other ways tortured Abner Louima pic.twitter.com/m5IOsNLoBh
— Copwatch (@Copwatch) April 22, 2014
A photo of Louima:
Hey @NYPDNews you guys didn't stay for a photo op but you left me some nice souvenirs #myNYPDpic.twitter.com/p8DfcBzEIu
— DefendedInTheStreets (@KimaniFilm) April 22, 2014
Remember when #myNYPD framed up a group of teenagers, known as the #CentralPark5? pic.twitter.com/DE1LfKY47K
— [OAKLAND]ASM (@OLAASM) April 22, 2014
Explicitness Warning: #myNYPD murdered Shantel Davis pic.twitter.com/rF8I4SAebP
— Copwatch (@Copwatch) April 22, 2014
Beating an 84 yr old man for jaywalking. #MyNYPD // keepin it classy! pic.twitter.com/kQrKFgJlFg
— Doc Rocket (@DocR0cket) April 22, 2014
Killed Ramarley Graham in front of his litte brother and grandmother #myNYPDpic.twitter.com/IZVO3oorpr
— Katete Ramos (@LatinaAnarchist) April 22, 2014
Oh yano just holding a gun to every citizen and calling it security. #MyNYPDpic.twitter.com/KXjEwrrH1k
— Kyle Babb (@TMG_17) April 22, 2014
"Let's do a Twitter hashtag." "Good idea, boss." "Who uses Twitter?" "Who cares, let's do it." #myNYPD
— Molly Knefel (@mollyknefel) April 22, 2014
Someone's getting fired today. #myNYPD
— ⓒⓗⓡⓘⓢ (@omgsocurly) April 22, 2014
The department responded with a statement at about 6:30pm EDT.
“The NYPD is creating new ways to communicate effectively with the community. Twitter provides an open forum for an uncensored exchange and this is an open dialogue good for our city.”
The backlash against the New York Police Department even spilled over into a user-generated campaign focused on the Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday evening, dubbed #myLAPD by social media users.
— Alex Bones Jones#ABJ (@HolisticStone) April 23, 2014
#myLAPD helps people up to knock them down. pic.twitter.com/5He4x4t2LT
— Los Angelies (@losangelies) April 23, 2014
The NYPD’s unforced blunder is akin to JPMorgan Chase’s planned Q&A session in November. The financial giant called for inquiries via the hashtag #AskJPM. JPMorgan was compelled to cancel the event when the hashtag was bombarded with criticism of the bank’s operations.