Local photographer’s social media posts lead

Jews in the D jews and racial justice

“Actions Matter”

Local photographer’s social media posts lead to removal of Shelby Township police chief.

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dan Lippitt wants to make it afraid to out someone, screenshot crystal clear — he didn’t do and send it to me. I’ll do it.” anything special. Lippitt, who used to attend ser

“I sat on my couch and posted vices at Temple Shir Shalom in something on Facebook; that’s about as lazy as you can be,” says the former photojournalist, who once worked at the JN and is now a commercial photographer. COURTESY OF DAN LIPPITT West Bloomfield, posted a series of screenshots highlighting inflammatory, hateful tweets and posts from various businesspeople, politicians and others starting June

But that “something” 2. Within two days, he he posted on Facebook was posting screenshots led to the removal of of tweets glorifying Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide, Dan Lippitt police brutality from the Twitter account of @ who is now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. Like so many Americans, Lippitt has been watching recent news events — from the police killing of George Floyd to violent standCOURTESY OF SHELBY TWP POLICE DEPT sheepdawg711, which Chief Shelide now admits he wrote. Lippitt says a source provided the screenshots. “So this is a ‘fun’ one. Ladies and Gentlemen your Shelby Twp. Chief of Police,” Lippitt wrote. “Please share this far offs between police and Chief Robert Shelide and wide. Let’s get this protesters nationwide a**hole fired please and, —and feeling angry, helpless and yes, I have private confirmation that frustrated. Scrolling through his it is irrefutably him.” Facebook feed only made matters The Twitter account has since worse. And then he saw a friend been taken down, but in screendoing something that inspired shots, the tweets refer to protesters him — outing people making racist as “wild savages” and read, “body and offensive comments online. He bags for these vicious subhumans.” decided to try it, too. One says, “I would hit them with

“I’ll be outing all the racists that tear gas and water cannons. Rubber message me or that I see,” Lippitt bullets.” Another reads, “Unleash posted on Facebook. “If you are the real cops … I promise it will be

On The Go virtual events | learnings

STAYING CONNECTED At this time of social distancing, the Jewish News will try to bring awareness to events/ learning situations offered online by synagogues, temples and community organizations.

FILM & STUDY SESSION 7 PM, JUNE 18 The Chabad Jewish Center of Troy presents the film and study session Triumph of Hope: Personal Recollections of Faith Amidst the Horrors of the Holocaust. Rabbi Menachem Caytak will conduct the online program. The film is a stirring documentary, featuring Holocaust survivors recounting how their faith and trust in God persevered despite living in a brutal and horrifying concentration camp. In the study session to follow, Rabbi Menachem will discuss how the Holocaust speaks to us today. The event is free; however, registration is required at JewishTroy.com/4727853.

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After township officials placed him on paid administrative leave, the 34-year police veteran’s tone dramatically changed. Shelide issued an apology, which reads, in part: “While an apology is insufficient and an insult to the gravity of my comments, I humbly and respectfully ask for the courtesy of forgiveness to those I have offended, to my department and more importantly to those I am sworn to serve. My record speaks to the commitment and professionalism that I have exhibited for more than 30 years without incident, both of which were compromised by my emotion.”

Lippitt was not impressed. “He posted reprehensible things and he’s policing peoCCF VIRTUAL WALK 11:30 AM-1 PM, JUNE 20 Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Take Steps Walk, which raises funds to find a cure for the disease, is going virtual this year with local programming starting at 11:30 am on Facebook Live on the CCF Michigan page and national programming starting at noon on the national FB page. More information at cctakesteps. org/southeastmichigan2020.

TOUR ISRAEL NOON-1 PM, JUNE 23 Temple Shir Shalom is offering a live, virtual tour of Tzippori, Israel, with Rabbi Daniel Schwartz and Israeli tour guide Beni Levin. Learn the history and stories of an ancient city in our community’s partnership region on this onehour guided tour on Zoom. To learn more or register, call 248- 737-8700 or email audrey@ shirshalom.org. COOKING FOR KIDS 4-5 PM, JUNE 23 Temple Israel sponsors a program of Israeli cooking with Maya for kindergarten thru seventhgraders. Younger students may need a parent nearby. A list of ingredients will be sent to those who register: temple-israel.org/ event/TynerCooking.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) announced that access to DSO Replay — the on-demand video streaming archive of past DSO performances — is now free to all. Find DSO Replay at dso.org/ replay.

VIRTUAL ART TOURS Ongoing at cranbrookartmuseum. org/3d-virtual-exhibition-tours. See Cranbrook Art Museum’s most recent shows online. Just added: the exhibition For the Record: Artists on Vinyl, which pairs album cover designs with artworks drawn from its permanent collection.

A DIGITAL DISCUSSION 8-9:PM, JUNE 25 Congregation Shaarey Zedek invites you to follow Rabbi Yonatan Dahlen (@MotorCityRabbi) on Instagram for a weekly live conversation between Yoni and his guests, who will cover a wide range of topics and perspectives.

Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items to calendar@ thejewishnews.com.

“People are entitled to their opinions; I’m not trying to keep anybody’s free speech down. But racism is bad. Just be nice — it’s not that hard. And for God’s sake, go vote.”

— DAN LIPPITT

ple. You can’t have a police chief who thinks like this,” he said, adding he had no idea who Shelide was prior to all of this.

While friends and followers on Facebook are calling him a “warrior for justice,” thanking him and cheering him on, Lippitt says he wishes he had done something sooner.

“Why did I wait so long to speak my mind? What was I afraid of?” he wrote. “I’m disappointed in myself. What if I had spoken up sooner? What if we all had? Please stop complimenting me for doing what I should have done in the first place.”

Following all the excitement, Facebook locked Lippitt’s account for at least three days, saying his posts were “against community guidelines” without providing details. He and others protested the temporary Facebook ban and his page was reinstated.

In the end, Lippitt says he wants people to know that actions matter, and one person can make a difference.

“Everybody should be speaking up. Imagine if everybody just spoke up,” he says. “People are entitled to their opinions; I’m not trying to keep anybody’s free speech down. But racism is bad. Just be nice — it’s not that hard. And for God’s sake, go vote.”