On Tuesday, Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon sparked rage on social media after she mocked the massive funeral procession along New York City’s Fifth avenue for slain NYPD officer fury Jason Rivera, 22, by tweeting, “I’m gonna tell my kids this is what fascism looks like.”
That caption accompanied a photo of the funeral procession. Above the photo, she taunted, “’So, if all these cops weren’t needed for CRIME that day, doesn’t that mean they aren’t needed ANY day?”
Susan Sarandon shares post comparing NYPD funeral turnout to 'fascism' in latest example of anti-cop vitriol https://t.co/pMRslGLZ4r pic.twitter.com/x4pglbe7pn
— New York Post (@nypost) February 3, 2022
Rivera and his partner Wilbert Mora, 27, who also died, were ambushed and shot in Harlem while responding to a domestic call.
Social media expressed their anger: The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York responded, “This is what privilege looks like: a wealthy actress, safe in her bubble, mocking heroes & making light of the crisis that cops are battling alongside our communities. NYC is uniting to stop the violence — @SusanSarandon is living on a different planet.”
This is what privilege looks like: a wealthy actress, safe in her bubble, mocking heroes & making light of the crisis that cops are battling alongside our communities. NYC is uniting to stop the violence — @SusanSarandon is living on a different planet.https://t.co/U1q0t32TzR
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) February 3, 2022
The National Order of Fraternal Police added, “Of all the days for @SusanSarandon to share her true feelings towards police, she picks the day we bury our fallen brother to make such inflammatory & brainless comments. When you spend more time hating on cops than you do your own career, it’s no wonder why you’re a D-list actor.”
Of all the days for @SusanSarandon to share her true feelings towards police, she picks the day we bury our fallen brother to make such inflammatory & brainless comments. When you spend more time hating on cops than you do your own career, it's no wonder why you're a D-list actor https://t.co/y4iIUV6IxB
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) February 3, 2022
NY GOP Congressman Lee Zeldin: “Congratulations, Susan Sarandon! You’re now the poster child of an angry, woke, liberal, pro-criminal, anti-law and order jerk. There are other more fitting titles, but it only gets more vulgar from here.”
Congratulations, Susan Sarandon! You're now the poster child of an angry, woke, liberal, pro-criminal, anti-law and order jerk.
There are other more fitting titles, but it only gets more vulgar from here. pic.twitter.com/rwgcqSd1jD
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) February 3, 2022
Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez: “If there is ever a reason for someone to be ‘cancelled,’ it’s egregious comments like this. Limousine liberal @SusanSarandon owes the NYPD an apology.”
If there is ever a reason for someone to be “cancelled,” it’s egregious comments like this.
Limousine liberal @SusanSarandon owes the NYPD an apology. https://t.co/WjHMOUkei5
— Carlos A. Gimenez (@CarlosGimenezFL) February 3, 2022
A Pennsylvania state representative fired, “Those were Heroes paying their last respects to two fallen brothers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Two of those heroes mourning the loss of their brothers in blue are my sons. Have respect you irrelevant, washed up actress! What do you contribute?”
https://twitter.com/RepMadden/status/1489051222040530945
Mark Krikorian, the executive director of Center for Immigration Studies, tweeted succinctly, “Hollywood vs. America, cont’d.”
Hollywood vs. America, cont'd https://t.co/T2IjcDBCBI
— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) February 3, 2022
The day after Rivera’s funeral, 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 for the funeral, then captioned it, “5/30/20: NYPD SUV drives into a crowd of protestors. Ideal conditions for reciprocity.”
Christopher Flanigan, who is a teacher 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.