Video shows Ohio cop high-fiving Proud Boy during anti-LGBTQ protest; police chief defends departmen [View all]

Source: New York Daily News

Video shows Ohio cop high-fiving Proud Boy during anti-LGBTQ protest; police chief defends department’s actions

Muri Assunção, New York Daily News
Tue, December 6, 2022 at 1:39 PM·2 min read

An Ohio police officer was caught on video high-fiving a member of the the Proud Boys during an anti-LGBTQ protest in Columbus over the weekend.

The cop, who identified himself as Sgt. Dyer, confirmed to a group of LGBTQ rights supporters that he had engaged with the far-right extremist group who were there to protest an all-ages storytelling event featuring drag performers.

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A video that has since gone viral on Twitter shows a group of Proud Boys protesters dancing to The Village People’s 1978 disco hit — and gay anthem — “Y.M.C.A.” It’s unclear if they were doing so to mock the LGBTQ community or as a nod to former President Donald Trump.

“We saw you high-five these guys,” a woman tells Sgt. Dyer in a video shared on social media. “Seriously? What was that all about?”

“Yes,” the officer responded, explaining that he did so to build relationships. “I’m not supporting their cause. I’m here to support their right to protest,” he told the woman, who’s the mother of a gay child.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/video-shows-ohio-cop-high-173900131.html