LA School Police Union calls for removal of UTLA board member after she posts “Blue Lives Murder” photo

LOS ANGELES - The union representing Los Angeles School Police officers is calling for the removal of a United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) board member after she posted a photo of herself wearing a shirt that says “Blue Lives Murder” on the front of it.

The photo was posted on UTLA’s Instagram account, and has since been deleted.

The woman wearing the shirt was Julie Van Winkle, a secondary vice president of UTLA.

“The second I saw the photo, I found it to be troubling,” said Billy Etue, Vice President of the Los Angeles School Police Association. “Even recognizing one’s free speech, but to see that on UTLA’s platform as though that was their official position, that all cops generally were murderers was quite troubling.”

Etue and the union are now calling for Van Winkle to be removed from her position on the UTLA Board.

“I find it very troubling that that individual is allowed to maintain a position on a board and is also a teacher teaching our youth,” Etue said.

Van Winkle released a statement following the incident.

“Yesterday, I posted a picture of myself wearing a shirt with a message that does not reflect the views of UTLA,” she said. “I apologize for this and for distracting from the real work that needs to happen. We need to bring attention to what really matters – fighting for Black lives in our schools and in our communities.”

“Yeah, I don’t believe her one bit that that’s a sincere statement,” Etue said. “I think this is just damage control on her part.

Etue referenced a second photo Van Winkle posted where she is holding a sign that says police unions are “white supremacist gangs.”

“To be generalized that cops are murderers, it’s just the furthest from the truth, and it takes away from the great work that’s being done throughout this nation by police departments,” Etue said.

Etue went on to say he does not believe Van Winkles positions reflect the majority of teachers within UTLA.

Rather, he believes UTLA’s top leadership has become radically anti police.

UTLA did not request to FOX 11’s request for comment.