Chicago officers reprimanded after photo shows them kneeling on duty

Two Chicago police officers knelt alongside a community activist over the weekend and are now being reprimanded.

“I think that what they did was heroic,” said activist Aleta Clark.

On Sunday, while many in the country waited to see which NFL players would take a knee, an Englewood activist marched into South Side police departments wondering the same thing about local officers.

“I asked them, ‘Are you against racism?’ They said yes, I said, ‘Are you against police brutality?’ They said yes. I said ‘Do you support Colin Kaepernick's decision?’ They said yes,” said Clark, known for the campaign 'Hugs not Slugs.'

She said inside CPD's District 6 in Auburn Gresham - two African American officers agreed to kneel alongside her, in uniform and inside the station.

She posted the picture of the three of them, fists raised in the air, on her Instagram account.

Last fall, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick made the pose famous, and controversial, when he chose to kneel during the National Anthem protesting police brutality, an action many have now followed.

Chicago police say they are investigating the picture, spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi says in a statement:

"We are aware of the photo, and we will address it in the same way we have handled previous incidents in which officers have made political statements while in uniform, with a reprimand and a reminder of department policies."

Clark doesn't think these two officers need to be punished and said she would rather the department spend their time, effort and money investigating police brutality.

“This is my message to those officers, I stand behind you," said Clark.

The Chicago Police Department policy in question is part of the rules of conduct, which prohibits officers from taking a political stance while in uniform.