(photo credit: @camiam713)
Months after Beyonce’s Super Bowl 50 performance, there are still people upset. On Saturday, May 5, The #FormationTour made a stop in Beyonce’s home town of #Houston, Texas at NRG stadium, but her return home was greeted by a few salty police officers who boycotted the concert.
Pasadena, Texas Coalition for Police and Sheriffs president, Tony Ragsdale, told KHOU 11, “Some of her performances we believe to be anti-police”. In an effort to show their disdain, the group set up 1 mile away from #NRG stadium , shining a blue light in the stadium’s direction. The actual number of protesters could not be determined.
In a statement in Elle Magazine, Mrs. Carter addressed the anti-police sentiments some perceived. “I mean, I’m an artist and I think the most powerful art is usually misunderstood. But anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken. I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe. But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and . Those are two separate things. If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I’m proud of what we created and I’m proud to be a part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.”
This isn’t the first time the #FormationTour has threatened to be boycotted. It’s just the first time an assembly occurred. Back in February, Javier Ortiz, the president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #20, stated his union had voted to boycott the first stop on the Formation Tour, but the assembly was not successful.
Peep the footage of the Houston protest here.
