Three South Bend Common Council members ask for stores to not sell 'Breathe Easy' t-shirts
Posted: Dec 16, 2014 2:21 PM EST
By James Fegan, Assignment Editor
'Breathe Easy' t-shirts being sold by South Bend UniformFOX 28.COM LINKS
PDF: County Council Members on Breathe Easy T-Shirts
SOUTH BEND -Three South Bend Common Council members are calling for stores to not sell t-shirts made by a South Bend company with the slogan "Breathe Easy; Don't Break the Law."
In a joint release, Council President Oliver Davis and council members Valerie Schey and Henry Davis Jr., alongside Rev. Terrell Jackson of the South Bend NAACP, called the message of the shirts "divisive" and said they promoted attitudes that "can put our trusted and brave officers in harm's way."
The shirts are being made by a company called South Bend Uniform, which is owned by Jason Barthel, a Corporal with the Mishawaka Police Department. Barthel said he made the shirts to give "another side of the story," after the Notre Dame Women's Basketball team donned shirts that read "I Can't Breathe" before their game on Saturday. Notre Dame player Tanya Reimer said they wore the shirts to show "condolence for the family" of Eric Garner, who was killed while police attempted to arrest him in New York City.
The council members called on vendors to discontinue sales of the 'Breathe Easy' shirts, and said they hope South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood will also refuse to support the message of the shirts. The council members also announced plans to host "collective conversations" aimed at a "better policing at community relations" to be hosted next month.
South Bend Uniform posted the following about the shirt's slogan on their Facebook Page on Monday:
In a joint release, Council President Oliver Davis and council members Valerie Schey and Henry Davis Jr., alongside Rev. Terrell Jackson of the South Bend NAACP, called the message of the shirts "divisive" and said they promoted attitudes that "can put our trusted and brave officers in harm's way."
The shirts are being made by a company called South Bend Uniform, which is owned by Jason Barthel, a Corporal with the Mishawaka Police Department. Barthel said he made the shirts to give "another side of the story," after the Notre Dame Women's Basketball team donned shirts that read "I Can't Breathe" before their game on Saturday. Notre Dame player Tanya Reimer said they wore the shirts to show "condolence for the family" of Eric Garner, who was killed while police attempted to arrest him in New York City.
The council members called on vendors to discontinue sales of the 'Breathe Easy' shirts, and said they hope South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood will also refuse to support the message of the shirts. The council members also announced plans to host "collective conversations" aimed at a "better policing at community relations" to be hosted next month.
South Bend Uniform posted the following about the shirt's slogan on their Facebook Page on Monday:
There has been both positive and negative reaction to the shirt on the company's Facebook Page. The company posted this in response: "For those upset, please understand when we use the slogan "Breathe Easy" we are referring to knowing the police are there for you! We are one people, one nation regardless of race, religion, creed or gender. We are all in this together. The police are here to protect and serve. 99.9% of us have the greater good in our hearts each time we strap on our uniforms and duty belts. We are all one people and this is by no means is a slam on Eric Garner or his family, God rest his soul. Lets all band together as AMERICANS regardless of our feelings and know we can and will be better! Thank you for your support."
FOX28 will be speaking to both Barthel and Common Council members behind the release, and will have updates at 10:00pm.
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