An Indiana police officer's sale of T-shirts reading "Breathe Easy: Don't Break the Law" has caused outrage, with critics deeming it as a "dangerous" message that claims "justice is not fair."
Cpl. Jason Barthel, of the City of Mishawaka Police in Indiana, has been selling the T-shirts through the South Bend Uniform Company for $7.95, the Washington Times reported. It is meant to spread a message that "police are there for you," said Barthel, who owns and operates the company.
But to some, the sale of the T-shirts appears more like a threat of police taking justice into their own hands.
"We believe that people should be able to breathe easy no matter what they're doing. Police should not take the right to breathe into their own hands," South Bend District Council President Oliver Davis told the New York Daily News Tuesday.
"It has a strong message to people to let them know that justice is not fair," Davis said of the T-shirt's design. "People need the right to be able to breathe easy no matter where we are in life and the justice system should be the ones to deal with that, not just the police officers."
The controversial shirt is also seen as a play on the final words of Eric Garner, who died after being restrained by an officer from the New York Police Department. Additionally, the sale of the shirts competes with the "I Can't Breathe" campaign, which is intended to protest Garner's death.
On July 17, at the request of local "minority business owners," police went to a location where Garner was known for selling cigarettes. In a widely circulated video, Officer Daniel Pantaleo can be seen grabbing unarmed Garner and fatally holding him in a banned chokehold maneuver as the man repeatedly says, "I can't breathe."
"This company exploits death, tragedy and ignorance for profit and publicity under the guise of supporting local law enforcers," Adam Duckworth posted on South Bend Uniform Company's Facebook page.
"Contrary to the implications of their merchandise, DEATH DOES NOT = JUSTICE. If you bought the 'breathe easy' shirt, you are basically agreeing that appropriate use of force when dealing with any and all petty criminals and even remotely 'suspicious' people is to skirt the justice system entirely via immediate deployment of the death penalty," he said.
Barthel said his T-shirts have been misunderstood, UK MailOnline reported.
"For those upset, please understand when we use the slogan 'Breathe Easy' we are referring to knowing the police are there for you!" he said on the company's Facebook page in response to angry comments, with some calling the design "insensitive" and "disrespectful."
"We are one people, one nation regardless of race, religion, creed or gender. We are all in this together. The police are here to protect and serve. 99.9 percent of us have the greater good in our hearts each time we strap on our uniforms and duty belts.
"We are all one people and this is by no means is a slam on Eric Garner or his family, God rest his soul. Let's all band together as AMERICANS regardless of our feelings and know we can and will be better! Thank you for your support," he said.
The "I Can't Breathe" slogan has become a nationwide rallying cry across America since Garner's death.