The Washington, D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter has angrily denounced a Wichita, Kansas, police officer captured on video dancing with the crowd at a Black Lives Matter rally on July 17.
In a tweet, the Washington chapter said the actions are “not in line with our principles.” The group also said the organizers of the Wichita rally were not “an official #BlackLivesMatter chapter.”
The D.C. chapter was responding to a tweet by The Root, a digital magazine that says it “provides thought-provoking commentary and news from a variety of black perspectives.”
The Root said the “protest in Kansas turned into a cookout with police.”
The “dancing cop” filmed busting a move with the crowd at the Kansas rally exploded into a viral hit after it was first posted on social media several weeks ago.
“I hit the ‘Whip and the Nae Nae,’ I got some lessons on that,” Wichita police officer Aaron Moses joked with KSN News.
WATCH: Video of Officer Moses busting a move with the crowd at a Black Lives Matter rally in Kansas quickly exploded into a viral hit
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Originally posted to social media by local resident Conlee Borchard, the 30-second clip shows Moses doing the “Cha-Cha Slide” with the large crowd gathered in the park.
“This is what humanity was designed to do. Work together, love each other and live in COMMUNITY.”
The video exploded in popularity after it was posted, with over 17 million views and almost 100,000 shares.
But the national co-founder of the Black Lives Matter organization says the video does not represent what they are about or the change they are trying to achieve.
“The group of people who had a BBQ with the police are not affiliated with Black Lives Matter,” Patrisse Cullors told KWCH News.
“We don’t sit on panels with law enforcement, and we don’t have BBQ’s or cookouts with law enforcement. We feel the best method at this point in history is by holding police accountable by organizing and advocating for police accountability.”
Many in the local community are wondering why the D.C. branch of Black Lives Matter is upset with the video and the rally.
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“Here we have where a police officer is getting to know the kids, getting to know the community and if that comes in a dance video, while they are out there dancing or talking, so be it, it brings us together.”
Moses said his decision to dance, and his general approach to policing, is built upon a profound revelation he had just a short while ago. Born and raised in Wichita, Moses said he spent his entire life wanting to be a cop – and never realizing that many in the black community view police officers with distrust.
“I will never grow up and not know what it’s like to trust a police officer and I think once you realize that, it’s a pretty profound thing that affects the way you do everything,” Moses said.
“I will never know what it’s like to grow up in a minority community, but I can try my hardest to serve them the best I can.”
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