Politician’s assassin was a police brutality victim: group

They’re gunning for the wrong cop.

The ultra-liberal lobbying group, Color of Change, slammed the NYPD on Twitter this week for gunning down Othniel Askew in City Hall right after he murdered Councilman James Davis in 2003.

Former legislators who were in the City Council chambers when Officer Richard Burt responded by shooting Askew dead — averting further mayhem by the gun-toting assassin — were outraged.

“This is beyond a cheap shot. It’s perverse,” said former Councilman Lewis Fidler, a Democrat who witnessed the bullets flying 11 years ago.

“I was there. [Burt] not only saved the lives of the council members who were there — there were little kids there for the Puerto Rican Day Parade.”

But instead of commending the recently retired detective, the California-based organization — which has received about $ 700,000 from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and at least $ 130,000 from the SEIU, a union powerhouse and Mayor de Blasio supporter — called him out.

Using the Twitter handle @KilledByCops as part of its “national spotlight on the crisis of police violence,” the group listed Askew’s death in the roll call of those it claims have died as a result of police violence.

“Othniel Askew — 31, killed by New York PD on 07/23/2003,” the group tweeted solemnly, lumping his death with a list of dozens of others, many of whom are legitimate victims of police brutality.

Burt told The Post he was taken aback by the listing.

“If they’re trying to compare my shooting with acts of police brutality, it’s a little bit far-fetched, a little bit crazy,” Burt said. “I’m bothered by it.”

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer agreed that Askew’s name didn’t belong on the site.

“They should really leave this off their list,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, a Democrat and former councilwoman who was also in City Hall when the shooting broke out.

“It’s really wrong. Whoever is doing this should do their research before they make accusations,” she added.

Color of Change describes itself on its Web site as dedicated to “changing the color of democracy” and aiming “to make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans.”

Burt, who’s black and served as then-Council Speaker Gifford Miller’s bodyguard, was hailed as hero after shooting Askew, a political rival of Davis who snuck a pistol into City Hall.

While on the council chamber balcony, Askew shot Davis dead. Below, about 40 feet away on the floor, Burt aimed his Glock and shot six times, hitting Askew — who still had seven bullets left in his own gun — on four of the attempts. Burt’s bullets did not strike anyone else.

Yahoo Local News – New York Post

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