These smears against Najiy for alleged "insufficient" salutation to the American Flag are Islamophobic and racist.
The Miami Police Department said Assistant Chief Anita Najiy followed proper code when deciding not to salute the American flag while in uniform during a recent promotional ceremony.Maj. Delrish Moss said the military code of conduct supersedes police code and that Najiy properly followed that code.
[...]
The Miami Police Benevolent Association released a statement Wednesday afternoon that said in part, "Racism cloaked in patriotism is a huge insult to the American flag, the city of Miami Police Department, and the countless hate and anti-Muslim filled rants generated by the recent antics of the FOP president; those two things seem to be the genesis of the current false controversy."
The statement continued, "A person who calls attention to Assistant Chief Najiy's decision to stand respectfully at attention during the Pledge of Allegiance, while he himself video taped the proceedings rather than pay the proper respect to the flag, is acting like a hypocrite."
Charles Rabin at Miami Herald:
Fraternal Order of Police President Javier Ortiz wants Najiy reprimanded for not saluting the flag or covering her heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.Olivia Marshall at MMFA:“Since she clearly has no respect for the flag or the United States, on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am requesting that Assistant Chief Najiy is removed as the commander of the MPD Honor Guard Detail,” Ortiz said in a letter Monday to Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes.
That’s not likely to happen. Though the police department’s code of conduct allows for a reprimand if an officer doesn’t salute the flag, it makes no mention of covering your heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. And not a single member of the command staff standing next to Najiy last week saluted the flag during the ceremony.
[...]
The city’s code of conduct for police officers clearly states that an officer in uniform, unless engaged in police duties, “will face the approaching flag and render a sharp military salute. Members in civilian clothes will stand at attention, holding right hand over left breast.”
On the April 27 edition of Fox & Friends, the hosts reported on a controversy in Miami over a police officer, Assistant Chief Anita Najiy, who did not put her hand over her heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. Co-host Steve Doocy noted that military guidelines require that military personnel "stand at attention, remain silent, and face the flag; and that's what she's doing." Nonetheless, the Fox & Friends hosts brought up a baseless accusation by Javier Ortiz, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, that the reason Najiy didn't put her hand over her heart is because she is "Muslim" and "has no respect for the flag or the United States."From the 04.27.2015 edition of FNC's Fox and Friends:[...]
But Miami Police Major Delrish Moss said it had "nothing to do with personal beliefs" and that Najiy was following military conduct guidelines, which "supercedes police code." And the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association, which represents black police officers, blasted Ortiz claims as racist:
"Racism cloaked in patriotism is a huge insult to the American flag, the city of Miami police department," MCPBA President Ella Moore said in a letter she intends to hand personally to Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes.
Hemant Mehta at The Friendly Atheist:
So she was following military rules… and that, in Ortiz’s eyes, makes her un-American. What he has against her, I don’t know, but even if she sat down during the Pledge, it wouldn’t make her any less patriotic. If you equate being a True American with participating in a mindless ritual, your priorities need adjustment.
Thankfully, it looks like no one is taking Ortiz seriously. After all, he’s the same guy who went to Ferguson, Missouri to show solidarity… with the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown.