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stand for questions.
Jay McDonald, who eventually won reelection as National
Vice President, reminded members that the FOP is built on three components: “Labor, legislation, and legal defense,” he confirmed.
When Canterbury, who also was reelected by a wide mar- gin, spoke to the Lodge 7 caucus, he related messages from his conversation with Attorney General Sessions the day be- fore.
“It was a great day yesterday for Chicago Lodge 7,” Canter- bury began. “When we talked about consent decrees, Gener- al Sessions personally told me the Department of Justice has no business running local police departments. He also said to me, ‘What the hell is wrong with a police officer stopping somebody on the street to ask where are you going?’ So the skids have been put on, especially your mayor.”
When Canterbury concluded by saying, “Let’s go kick some ass,” he seemed to conjure the unity, appreciation, camara- derie, support and recognition in one fell swoop. McClain, who is in his first year as a rep for Unit 311 Gang Enforcement in 007, seemed to exemplify the impact that those remarks and the entire conference had on delegates, and ultimately on Lodge 7 members.
“I am glad we are here to ensure the police are protected,” he confided. “I feel like one of the things we all feel here is that we should band together and look out for each other.”
Perhaps this was yet another nod to how the 63rd Biennial National FOP Conference certainly helped ease the burden and the pain. d
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2017