Several concerned citizens have plans to speak at Tuesday night’s Hopkinsville City Council meeting, in which they will publicly request the dismissal of Hopkinsville Police Department Officer Jeremiah Kline.
According to this group of individuals, photos and videos of Kline using the “OK” hand gesture have surfaced on social media. And though this symbol has long been a childhood prank for “made you look,” it’s more recently become a signifying mark for white nationalism and hate groups across the country.
The next City Council Meeting is August 15th at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers on the 1st floor of the Hopkinsville Municipal Center located at 715 South Virginia Street. Meetings are broadcast live on the city’s website, YouTube, and by tuning to City TV on Spectrum Cable Channel 376 or on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.
Cherry West, the organizer, said “anyone is welcome to join, observe or speak if they desire.” She said that many have expressed “disbelief,” as Mayor JR Knight and HPD Chief Jason Newby are aware of Kline’s actions, and yet he’s neither been suspended, nor relieved.
West said the purpose of this meeting is “to see that it happens.” A sign-in sheet will be at a table near the door, and during the public comments portion of the agenda, speakers will be asked to stand at the podium, state their name and address, and will be limited to three minutes.
Jeff Taylor, former state representative and Hopkinsville resident, plans to speak. In a written release, he said it’s “baffling” that those that “have the power and position to take the appropriate actions have not.” And that “allowing an officer to remain on the force, after such blatant racist actions, taints the entire department and community.”
West can be contacted by email: chrry_west@yahoo.com, or by phone: (270) 987-1003.
In an August 3 Facebook post, Newby said “this issue has been addressed, and will not be an issue moving forward.” He further noted that he was working with the Human Resource Director and the city’s attorney to modify the police department, and all city departments, policies regarding an employee’s use of social media.
He also asked that citizens “continue to relay any police department concerns to their community leaders, or him,” so everyone can work together.
The way in which the “OK” symbol becoming aligned with white power remains a complex, controversial issue, and it comes from a poisonous combination of online trolling, memes and media coverage.
In 2017, online communities — and especially the 4chan message board — began a misinformation campaign to create confusion about the hand signal, one that’s long meant peace and prosperity across many cultures. They falsely claimed it was a symbol of white power, in hopes of provoking reaction and media convergence.
This generated enough traction for it to become a meme, in which people started sharing images and videos of public figures and celebrities using the “OK” sign, and verifying an affiliation must exist.
The vicious cycle of propaganda and coverage, in turn, actually led groups like the Ku Klux Klan, the Neo-Nazis, the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters, and many, many others to claim its meaning, and use it in public settings.
Video: #duet with @givemeliberty #millenial fire #officerjeremiahkline #blac… | Black TikTok | TikTok
