The St. Louis Police Officers Association sent out a scathing response to the Rams’ sideline show in support of Ferguson protesters, saying in a written statement that the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose adopted by some players only fanned the flames.
A spokesman for the St. Louis Rams said the team wasn’t aware of the demonstration — carried out by Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Chris Givens, Kenny Britt and Jared Cook — who all stepped on to the field on Sunday with the same stance that protesters have been using to show solidarity with killed teen, Michael Brown.
Local police, however, weren’t impressed with the message.
“The St. Louis Police Officers Association is profoundly disappointed with the members of the St. Louis Rams football team who chose to ignore the mountains of evidence released from the St. Louis County Grand Jury this week and engage in a display that police officers around the nation found tasteless, offensive and inflammatory,” the group wrote, KSDK-TV reported.
Meanwhile, SLPOA business manager Jeff Roorda weighed in separately — but just as critically.
“I’d remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertisers’ products,” he said in the written statement, KDSK-TV reported. “It’s cops and the good people of St. Louis and other NFL towns that do. Somebody needs to throw a flag on this play. If it’s not the NFL and the Rams, then it’ll be cops and their supporters.”
SEE ALSO: Rams players enter field with arms raised in support of Ferguson protesters
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/01/st-louis-police-officers-rams-hands-up-dont-shoot/19726347/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycomnation-topstories
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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