In a memo distributed to members of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association of New York on Thursday (6/8), organization president Patrick J. Lynch urged officers who moonlight doing security or other work at local venues to avoid working or attending the 10 Springsteen concerts scheduled to begin on June 12th at Madison Square Garden.

Lynch characterized Springsteen as "trying to fatten his wallet by reopening the wounds of this tragic case at a time when police officers and community members are in a healing period."

Asked whether Lynch has heard the track or seen its lyrics, a spokesman for the PBA told liveDaily on Friday, "I'm sure he hasn't heard the song. I'm sure this is all based on the news reports and complaints from the membership."

Lyrics to the song, transcribed from bootleg recordings, have appeared on several online discussion groups and revolve around an oft-repeated chorus:

Is it a gun?
Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain't no secret
The secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots

In a written statement sent to Springsteen representatives and obtained by LiveDaily, Lynch said, "Surely a performer of Mr. Springsteen's stature and success doesn't need to exploit a tragic situation like Amadou Diallo's death for the sake of politicizing his music and grabbing headlines. The very title of the song is offensively misleading because, as police officers and all right-thinking people know, the color of Amadou Diallo's skin was not a factor in his death."

Lynch's statement continued, "'American Skin' will not earn Mr. Springsteen any new fans, and it should lose him several, certainly among police officers."

The PBA's spokesman, who asked not to be named in this story, added, "The major concern is not the public's perception of the police. I don't think [the boycott] affects that either way. What it affects is the police's perception of how their leaders are reacting to this situation."

The four officers involved in the Diallo shooting were indicted for second-degree murder and other offenses, and were subsequently acquitted of all charges in February of this year, prompting protests decrying the verdict. A $61 million wrongful death lawsuit against the officers and the city of New York was filed by Diallo's parents in April.

Springsteen has occasionally populated his songs with law enforcement characters, typically drawing them as working-class everymen at various emotional crossroads. In January of 1998, Springsteen joined fellow New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi in a benefit concert that raised over $100,000 for the family of a slain Long Branch, N.J., police officer killed in the line of duty.

Representatives from Madison Square Garden had no comment on whether police officers abiding the boycott would have any effect on security staffing for the shows or whether they would allow officers to refund tickets.