On Sunday, January 4th, Mayor Bill De Blasio of New York City delivered a eulogy at the funeral of Wenjian Lu. Wenjian Lu was one of the two officers who was ambushed and killed by a man who seeked revenge for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. During De Blasio's speech thousands of police officers outside the funeral home turned their back on the mayor in a sign of anger. They feel that the mayor worsened the anti-police climate through his actions and words specifically that in which he told his biracial son to be careful around the police. The police officers feel as if the mayor has failed to support them during these tense times. They believe that his support of the protesters following the death of Eric Garner may have attributed to the anti-police climate that took the death of two fellow police officers.
In his speech, De Blasio seems to be very tense. He is aware that the police officers have turned their backs on him. He begins by saying "All of our city is heartbroken today", in a way of empathizing with both sides. He recognizes the dangers faced by police officers everyday and the daily sacrifices made by them. In rendering praise to Lu, De Blasio says: "He walked a path of courage, a path of sacrifice, and a path of kindness". The repetition of "a path of..." emphasizes the significance of each word. He continues to praise police officers in general for being the foundation of a society and the protection of all its citizens. Throughout the speech, De Blasio offers multiple examples as to enhance the great character of officer Lu. He does this by referring to Lu's relationship with his parents and his relationship with the other police officers. In entirety, De Blasio appeals to pathos to evoke a feeling of great sadness among the audience.
Mayor De Blasio ends the speech by asking fellow New Yorkers: "Let us rededicate ourselves to those great New York traditions of mutual understanding and living in Harmony." He asks New Yorkers to focus on all things that unite them, and not on those that disunite them in hopes of strengthening the broken bonds.
In his speech, De Blasio seems to be very tense. He is aware that the police officers have turned their backs on him. He begins by saying "All of our city is heartbroken today", in a way of empathizing with both sides. He recognizes the dangers faced by police officers everyday and the daily sacrifices made by them. In rendering praise to Lu, De Blasio says: "He walked a path of courage, a path of sacrifice, and a path of kindness". The repetition of "a path of..." emphasizes the significance of each word. He continues to praise police officers in general for being the foundation of a society and the protection of all its citizens. Throughout the speech, De Blasio offers multiple examples as to enhance the great character of officer Lu. He does this by referring to Lu's relationship with his parents and his relationship with the other police officers. In entirety, De Blasio appeals to pathos to evoke a feeling of great sadness among the audience.
Mayor De Blasio ends the speech by asking fellow New Yorkers: "Let us rededicate ourselves to those great New York traditions of mutual understanding and living in Harmony." He asks New Yorkers to focus on all things that unite them, and not on those that disunite them in hopes of strengthening the broken bonds.