Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges Posed for a Photo With a Local, Local News and Police Interpret it as "Gang Signs."

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges came under seriously ridiculous racially-charged scrutiny this week when local police chastised her for making this gesture with a young man involved with a Twin Cities charity. As you can see in this video, the hand sign was clearly the result of an awkward "how do I pose" sort of moment. Local TV station KSPT had another story: That the mayor was intentionally making a "gang sign" with the volunteer, a former felon.

The other twist in the story? Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau was just off camera during that entire photo shoot, on the far left here:



Something seems fishy here, beyond mere ignorance and hasty sensationalized news reporting. The best response so far has come from the mayor's husband, Greg Cunningham: