ST. LOUIS | The St. Louis Police Officers Association has called on the NFL to publicly apologize and discipline the five Rams players who stood with their hands raised before Sunday’s game.

FILE - In this Sunday Nov. 30, 2014, file photo, St. Louis Rams players, from left; Stedman Bailey (12), Tavon Austin (11), Jared Cook, (89) Chris Givens (13) and Kenny Britt (81) raise their arms in awareness of the events in Ferguson, Mo., as they walk onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in St. Louis. Time will tell whether the ``hands-up'' gesture during pregame introductions will leave a lasting memory or simply go down as a come-and-go moment in the age of the 24-hour news cycle. Either way, it certainly isn't the first time high-profile athletes have used their platform to make political statements. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
FILE – In this Sunday Nov. 30, 2014, file photo, St. Louis Rams players, from left; Stedman Bailey (12), Tavon Austin (11), Jared Cook, (89) Chris Givens (13) and Kenny Britt (81) raise their arms in awareness of the events in Ferguson, Mo., as they walk onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in St. Louis. Time will tell whether the “hands-up” gesture during pregame introductions will leave a lasting memory or simply go down as a come-and-go moment in the age of the 24-hour news cycle. Either way, it certainly isn’t the first time high-profile athletes have used their platform to make political statements. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
FILE – In this Sunday Nov. 30, 2014, file photo, St. Louis Rams players, from left; Stedman Bailey (12), Tavon Austin (11), Jared Cook, (89) Chris Givens (13) and Kenny Britt (81) raise their arms in awareness of the events in Ferguson, Mo., as they walk onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in St. Louis. Time will tell whether the “hands-up” gesture during pregame introductions will leave a lasting memory or simply go down as a come-and-go moment in the age of the 24-hour news cycle. Either way, it certainly isn’t the first time high-profile athletes have used their platform to make political statements. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)

It was an apparent show of solidarity with Ferguson protesters in the wake of a grand jury’s decision not to indict the white officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, who was black. Some witnesses said Brown had his hands up before being shot by officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. Wilson testified to the grand jury that Brown hit him and reached for his gun.

Before pregame introductions on Sunday, wide receivers Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt came out together with their hands raised, followed by Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook and Chris Givens.

The officers’ association released a statement Sunday that said it was “profoundly disappointed” with the players, whose gesture it considered “tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.”

“I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights,” association business manager Jeff Roorda said. “Well, I’ve got news for people who think that way, cops have first amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours.”

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy provided a one-sentence response to a request for comment to the group’s statement.

“We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation,” he said in an email Monday.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he wasn’t aware the gesture had been planned by the players, who are all black.

“I just think there has to be a change,” tight end Jared Cook said after the Rams’ 52-0 rout. “There has to be a change that starts with the people that are most influential around the world.

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4 replies on “St. Louis police group criticizes Rams players”

  1. Given the widely conflicting testimony we’ll unfortunately never know for sure if Wilson was really in fear of his life when he shot Brown. The grand jury seems to have thought so.
    The people that concluded before the facts were in that Wilson shot Brown because he’s black, are at the very least stupid, and at worse racist.

    1. “I contend that the cry of “black power” is, at bottom, a reaction to the reluctance of white power to make the kind of changes necessary to make justice a reality for the Negro. I think that we’ve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard.”

      Not stupid or racist, upset and frustrated at a system that is stacked against them. I do find it ironic though that the St. Louis police department wants these black people punished for putting their hands up and saying don’t shoot. Isn’t that the alleged behavior that got them into this trouble.

  2. Yet, many on the Ferguson police force wore black arm bands and “I support Officer Doofus Big Ears” (can’t remember his name) on their sleeves. Many were also found to be secret members of the KKK.

  3. Though I do not disagree with the Ferguson decision, I don’t think a lying criminal is the best representation to stand up against police criticism.

    Jeffrey ROORDA, Appellant, v. THE CITY OF ARNOLD

    “So viewed, the record reveals that in July 1997, Roorda attempted to try to “cover” for another police officer by filing a report that contained false statements as to what happened during a suspect’s apprehension and arrest.”
    https://caselaw.findlaw.com/mo-court-of-appeals/1333908.html

    I am pretty sure most civilians that file a false police report go to jail…

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