NYPD accidentally paints ACAB on Pride cop cars – and the internet is loving it
Twitter users noticed a slogan painted onto the NYPD’s new Pride Month-themed cop cars could be shortened to the anti-police slogan ‘ACAB’. (Twitter/@NYPDPC)
An image of a Pride Month-themed New York Police Department (NYPD) cop car sparked laughter and joy online because of an alleged anti-cop acronym in the rainbow paint job.
Like many corporations leaning into rainbow-washing, the NYPD decided to deck out its cruisers in kaleidoscopic colours and new slogans to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month.
Commissioner Keechant Sewell tweeted an image of the new cruisers on Friday (2 June) to celebrate Pride Month. Sewell said the Gay Officers Action League NY had “demonstrated unwavering commitment to promoting universal acceptance and inclusion for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community” over the years.
But eagle-eyed social media users noticed the Pride design may, in fact, include an anti-police reference.
“All Colours Are Beautiful” is printed on the side of the vehicle which could be abbreviated as the anti-cop acronym ‘ACAB’ (All Cops Are B*****ds). The slogan is globally recognised and came into increased usage during the protests against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Twitter users were quick to pounce on the acronym’s appearance in the NYPD Pride Month design, calling the mastermind behind the design a “hero”.
Ultimately, it’s unclear whether the slogan was intentionally added in by the designer or just an oversight from the NYPD on meanings that could be drawn from the cop cars.
PinkNews has reached out to the NYPD for comment.
The NYPD has a long track record of heinous actions against LGBTQ+ people and other marginalised groups.
This includes the violent police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969 that sparked resistance and catalysed the modern fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The NYPD didn’t apologise for the police brutality and discriminatory actions of law enforcement during the Stonewall Inn raid until 2019.
The police force welcomed Pride Month this year by arresting Qween Jean, a Black trans activist, following a ‘Trans Revolution’ protest in Washington Square Park on Wednesday (31 May), The Villager reported.
The rally condemned the increase in anti-trans legislation and deadly anti-trans violence across the US.
Qween, who organised the protest, was arrested on charges of using a megaphone without a permit and led into an NYPD van while supporters demanded the trans activist be set free.
The NYPD has also been condemned for allegedly giving free rides home to Proud Boys members after the far-right group protested a drag queen event in December.
In 2021, the police arrested a trans teen outside Trump Tower for protesting the Capitol riots, but the force let thousands of white supremacists walk free.
NYPD police officers shot and killed Kawaski Trawick, a Black bisexual man, in his home in 2019.
