Boston college apologizes for letting cops use restrooms, says it won’t happen again

Responding to “hurt and anger” caused when it allowed police officers to use restrooms on its campus, the Berklee College of Music — a private university in Boston — issued an apology, and a promise it won’t happen again.

The apology released Wednesday on Facebook comes almost two weeks after members of the Boston Police Department staged near the school on May 31, a day of protests against racial injustice largely triggered by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police on Memorial Day. Boston police officers were given permission to use the bathrooms inside the Berklee Performance Center, outlets report.

“Allowing police officers into the space was in no way meant to undermine Berklee’s support for Black Lives Matter,” the apology, cosigned by Berklee’s President Roger Brown, its chief financial officer, and its public safety chief, said.

“The decision to allow them into our facilities was ours. This was not a formal decision by the institution, but an informal one, made on the spot.”

Many have reached out to administrators since then, voicing anger and frustration, according to the school.

“We understand that many members of our community feel betrayed. We are deeply sorry for the impact this had on our community and for perpetuating feelings of oppression, silencing, and marginalization,” the apology says. “Let us assure you, this should not have happened, and going forward, it will not happen again.”

The deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other black Americans during encounters with law enforcement has fueled nationwide protests calling for an end to racial injustice in U.S. policing.

Taylor, 26, an ER technician, died on March 13 after police in Louisville, Kentucky, executed a “no-knock” warrant at her apartment during a narcotics investigation, shooting her at least eight times. All three officers involved are on administrative leave, and the case is being investigated by the FBI.

Dennis Galvin, a former officer and president of the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement, told the Boston Herald that Berklee’s letter is counterproductive to reaching a solution.

“If the object here is to improve policing, that statement is completely irrational,” Galvin told the outlet. “Some people want to make war with police. This letter is just playing to people’s emotions.”

This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Boston college apologizes for letting cops use restrooms, says it won’t happen again."