St Louis Rams Michael Brown Hands Up Protest Upsets Police; Players Not Penalized
The St. Louis Police Officers Association is calling for the St. Louis Rams to apologize after some of its players publicly started their game by making a statement in support of slain teenager Michael Brown who was fatally shot by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer.
Rams players Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt walked onto the field Sunday with their hands raised, mimicking the gestures made by those protesting 18-year-old Brown's death. Although the Rams won the game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, the police association was "profoundly disappointed" in the actions of the NFL players' form of silent protest before the big game.
"The gesture has become synonymous with assertions that Michael Brown was innocent of any wrongdoing and attempting to surrender peacefully when Wilson, according to some now-discredited witnesses, gunned him down in cold blood," the police association said in a statement, according to CNN.
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Jeff Roorda, the police association's business manager, took the statement even further by saying, "It is unthinkable that homegrown athletes would so publicly perpetuate a narrative that has been disproven over and over again."
While the police association wants discipline to be handed down to the Rams players, along with an NFL apology, the players spoke to KSDK-TV in St. Louis about their reason for participating in the silent protest. Cook, the 27-year-old Rams tight end, told the station that he and his teammates wanted to show their support for those in the affected Ferguson and the surrounding St. Louis community where Brown was fatally shot.
"We wanted to do something ... This is our community," Cook said.
Bailey, the 24-year-old wide receiver, said he and his teammates wanted the violence taking place in the Missouri communities near them to stop.
"We just understand that it's a big tragedy, and we hope something positive comes out of it," Bailey told reporters after the game Sunday.
Austin, the 23-year-old running back, agreed with his teammates' sentiments.
"What happened was a tragedy, period," Austin said. "There are things out there bigger than football and we notice that."
While the police association has called for the players to apologize, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the league respected the individuals involved who would not be fined for their actions.
"We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
