usatoday | The NFL will not adhere to a request from the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association to discipline St. Louis Rams players who did the “hands up, don’t shoot” pose used by protesters in Ferguson, Mo. during pre-game introductions on Sunday.
“We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have
expressed views on this tragic situation,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy
said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.
The police officer’s association issued a letter late Sunday
condemning the players’ actions as “tasteless, offensive and
inflammatory” given a grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson
police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of black teenager
Michael Brown.
Five Rams players raised their hands as they walked out of the tunnel
onto the field at the Edwards Jones Dome before Sunday’s game against
the Oakland Raiders.
Wide receiver Stedman Bailey said he and his teammates decided to
make the gesture shortly before the game, and intended it to be
something positive.
“Violence should stop. There’s a lot of violence going on here in St.
Louis. We definitely hear about it all, and we just want it to stop,”
Bailey told reporters after the game.
Tight end Jared Cook said he and his teammates wanted to show
solidarity with protesters, because they had not been able to physically
join them since the grand jury’s announcement was made last week. Cook
said his family members went to Ferguson last week and reported back to
him what they saw.
“It’s dangerous out there. None of us want to get caught up in that.
We wanted to come out and show our respect to the protesters that have
been doing a heck of a job,” Cook said.
