On Saturday, a Brooklyn high school math teacher triggered fury when he posted an Instagram story with an overhead shot of the thousands of NYPD’s finest outside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Friday for the funeral of Det. Jason Rivera, 22, then captioned it, “5/30/20: NYPD SUV drives into a crowd of protestors. Ideal conditions for reciprocity.”
Christopher Flanigan, who teaches math at Coney Island Prep, was apparently referencing an incident in May 2020 when an NYPD vehicle moved through a crowd of protesters following the death of George Floyd. No injuries were reported from that incident; even leftist New York Mayor Bill de Blasio blamed the protesters for not clearing out of the way of the police.
“Flanigan — who was profiled by NY1 for his musical tributes to first responders in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic — was reached by The Post by phone Saturday night, but abruptly hung up before he could be asked about the content on his private Instagram account, which was shared with officers by a concerned follower, sources said,” the New York Post reported.
Rivera was shot and killed on January 21 in Harlem. “The Friday incident unfolded as officers were responding to a domestic call at 6:15 p.m. in Harlem, officials said. A woman called 911 and reported she was having a dispute with one of her sons inside her apartment, said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig. Shortly after, three NYPD officers arrived at the apartment and met the mother and another son. At some point the officers were directed to a room in the back of the apartment, where her other son — the suspect — was waiting, Essig said,” CNN noted.
“This has always been a city of lights, and police officer Jason Rivera was one of the brightest,” Commissioner Keechant Sewell eulogized Rivera and fellow cop Wilbert Mora, who was also ambushed in Harlem, according to The New York Times. She added, “Jason rose to every challenge that crossed his path. The horror that took their lives is an affront to every decent, caring human being in this city and beyond. Their assassinations, the dousing of Jason’s thousand-watt smile that lifted the spirits of those fortunate to know him shocks sensibilities and leads others to despair.”
One Manhattan cop told the New York Post, “For a school teacher to condone an act of terrorism is reprehensible. I wouldn’t want him giving my own children instruction of any kind.” A Brooklyn cop echoed, “You have a city worker wishing physical harm or worse to fellow city workers during a solemn service. It is the ultimate act of cowardice.”
More anger was expressed on social media, The Daily Mail reported, with comments like these:
Coney Island Prep Math teacher Christopher Flanigan encouraged violence against NY cops. Parents watch who’s influencing your kids! Do you support this @CIPrep? #FireFlanigan.
I assume the announcement about the termination of Christopher Flanigan’s contract is forthcoming? Or do you want to destroy your school financially? Because it is either him or you at this point, but one of you is going down.
Has Coney Island Prep fired this scumbag yet?