In response to Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to offer discounts to protestors who remain peaceful and wear buttons to prove it, today CODEPINK asked the NYPD to do the same and even offered them their own discounts.

Earlier today, CODEPINK activists went into the precinct on 35th street to present the NYPD with buttons declaring “Peaceful New York Police� and, if they wear it, offering them discounts like 20% off at ABC Carpet and Home and 10% off any art work at the Axis Gallery. Any pin wearing police officer could also enjoy a 5% discount at Angelica’s Kitchen, _ off tickets to any performance at The Culture Project, and a 10% discount at the Angelika Film Center for any showing of “Uncovered: The War On Iraq.�

Adrea Buffa, one of the CODEPINK activists who was arrested for hanging a banner during Bloomberg’s press conference announcing the buttons for “peaceful protestors�, approached the woman at the counter and indicated that they wished to offer these buttons to the officers as an act of goodwill that would help to de-escalate rising tensions.

The first response was that they couldn’t wear “something like that� because it espouses a political view and that they are a neutral party. After explaining that it wasn’t a political position but a show of mutual respect – peaceful protestor, peaceful police – she then offered to leave some buttons and discount pins, saying the police didn’t have to use them if they didn’t want to. The response was that it would be considered “unlawful gratuity� and that they would not accept the buttons or the coupons.

CODEPINK will continue to raise awareness about the program and plan to find creative ways to encourage the NYPD to support a mutually respectful button-wearing commitment to non-violence.