St.Louis Police Demand Apology From The NFL, St. Louis Rams.

[Raptor]

Something " stupid" is subjective

Isn't a forced apology always bullshit? That is common though that someone does something stupid and then we get the forced apology.

They believed is was worth making a statement ,it was non violent, non criminal, what one NFL company believes is stupid is another individual's need to stand up for a perceived injustice.

[rdog5]

They believed is was worth making a statement ,it was non violent, non criminal, what one NFL company believes is stupid is another individual's need to stand up for a perceived injustice.

I made a general statement about "forced apologies" and referenced it with saying when somebody does/says something stupid, for example how many times have people tweeted something they later regretted only to issue a forced apology. Therefore the apology is not because they believe they were wrong but to appease the public.

In this instance again it is so simple. If you are wearing your employers uniform such as the Rams, Sixers, Mcdonalds clerk, Police Officer, etc. You have an obligation to your employer to not brand your opinions with their uniform. Any backlash should come from their employer. That backlash could be forced by the public through boycotting the product.

The irony is that regardless what side you are on "Hand up, don't shoot" is good advice even though its not applicable in this instance.

[McCarthy12]

I agree with this. The only person/entity to whom they might conceivably "owe" an apology is the Rams - if the Rams were upset about it and asked for one. They certainly don't owe any police organization an apology. They have the right to express themselves as long as they are willing to deal with the potential consequences from their employer.

Personally, I think it was kind of (I don't really know the right word to use - odd maybe?) since the "hands up don't shoot" thing has more or less been proven to be a false narrative. Then again, I don't exactly look to most professional athletes for guidance on moral issues or public affairs so whatever.

[Raptor]

Thank you,

I agree with this. The only person/entity to whom they might conceivably "owe" an apology is the Rams - if the Rams were upset about it and asked for one. They certainly don't owe any police organization an apology. They have the right to express themselves as long as they are willing to deal with the potential consequences from their employer.

Personally, I think it was kind of (I don't really know the right word to use - odd maybe?) since the "hands up don't shoot" thing has more or less been proven to be a false narrative. Then again, I don't exactly look to most professional athletes for guidance on moral issues or public affairs so whatever.

.all we hear from fans,parents,the NFL and NFLPA, is integrity,leadership, and how much civic duty professional players should exhibit.

We get constantly bombarded by all these great volunteers days and causes they support, hell, a lot of those campaigns are endorsed by the NFL or the team itself.
They get the softball issues,cancer, domestic abuse, drug use, physical health, etc etc

But god forbid they should make a statement about a subject that isn't all unicorns and rainbows.

I applaud their stand, to go out on limb.Like you, I kind of scratch my head with the symbolism but will not vilify them.

It's between them and the Rams. They don't owe anybody a damn thing.

[Eagle In Ohio]

It would be interesting to note

That another video has surfaced where there are two contractors working close to the scene. One contractor is on the phone, but he can be seen gesturing in a "hands up" motion. There's audio in the video as well where you can hear what is believed to be the contractor, yell "he had his hands up in the air". Not sure if it will change anything, I doubt it, but it's out there.

[McCarthy12]

Eh, I mean, there were so many contradictory statements from eyewitnesses. It's possible that he was doing something with his arms/hands but I think it is extremely unlikely that he stopped, put his hands in the air to surrender and yelled at the cop not to shoot. That's not a very ambiguous action. It's a metaphor for a larger issue, but I don't think it actually happened.

[Overbrook]

I really don't give shit what they did, but.....

it just seems strange that if 1 of the guys was wearing the wrong color socks he'd get hit with a big fine, but we'll overlook this.


As for the police, fuck 'em. Much ado about nothing.

[rdog5]

That another video has surfaced where there are two contractors working close to the scene. One contractor is on the phone, but he can be seen gesturing in a "hands up" motion. There's audio in the video as well where you can hear what is believed to be the contractor, yell "he had his hands up in the air". Not sure if it will change anything, I doubt it, but it's out there.

AS you describe this video, its seems like one that was released in early September and I am sure was considered by the grand jury. I can't fathom that when confronted with physical and forensic evidence people still refuse to believe certain indisputable facts.

The irony is that those that profess to be leaders in the case against Officer Wilson are at points the worst enemy. The immediate popularity of the hands up story got other witnesses to come forward with the same story. The narrative was played over and over as well as shooting him from behind. When these witnesses are proven wrong then their whole statement is seen as a lie and thereby discrediting the case against Officer Wilson.

More importantly the one question I can't seem to get an answer for is why is it justified to judge an officer based on his profession and skin color but yet others don't want to be judged based on such stereotypical descriptors? There have been no identifiable connections between Officer Wilson and racist organizations nor any witnesses stating he made discriminatory remarks.

Again Bias is the enemy of the truth!

[Chief]

Maybe they were just...

...celebrating those TDs pregame.

[Drama Queen]

Ithink that's what the police have a problem with here.

It's a metaphor for a larger issue, but I don't think it actually happened.

The police see the players (and by extension, the Rams and the NFL) perpetuating a false reality linked to the Ferguson case.

[Drama Queen]

Agreed. Lets protect the shield against what color socks players wear, but its fine if the players express themselves in a controversial way on an NFL platform.

[Riccardo]

Amazingly Fatcessa had a valid point on this

Was listening to WFAN hoping to hear vagiants fans whining and crying but of course they weren't talking about that. Francessa said on their own time they can take whatever stand they want but when in football uniform they should stand for all Rams fans (i.e. those pro and against the cops in this case), and not take sides. Seemed to make sense to me

[Drama Queen]

Makes sense to me, too. You think BAC will let you do these kinds of things before a big presentation or maybe allow a sales rep to go into a BAC retail establishment, set up a booth to promote your products, whilst doing the "Hands Up Don't Shoot" gesture throughout the day? ( I threw whilst in there because you like that gay shit).

[Drama Queen]

Here is the complete statement from the SLPOA. There are some valid points to be taken from it.

Here is the complete statement from the SLPOA.

"St. Louis, Missouri (November 30, 2014) – 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.

"Five members of the Rams entered the field today exhibiting the "hands-up-don't-shoot" pose that has been adopted by protestors who accused Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson of murdering Michael Brown. 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.

"SLPOA Business Manager Jeff Roorda said, "now that the evidence is in and Officer Wilson's account has been verified by physical and ballistic evidence as well as eye-witness testimony, which led the grand jury to conclude that no probable cause existed that Wilson engaged in any wrongdoing, it is unthinkable that hometown athletes would so publicly perpetuate a narrative that has been disproven over-and-over again."

"Roorda was incensed that the Rams and the NFL would tolerate such behavior and called it remarkably hypocritical. "All week long, the Rams and the NFL were on the phone with the St. Louis Police Department asking for assurances that the players and the fans would be kept safe from the violent protesters who had rioted, looted, and burned buildings in Ferguson. Our officers have been working 12 hour shifts for over a week, they had days off including Thanksgiving cancelled so that they could defend this community from those on the streets that perpetuate this myth that Michael Brown was executed by a brother police officer and then, as the players and their fans sit safely in their dome under the watchful protection of hundreds of St. Louis's finest, they take to the turf to call a now-exonerated officer a murderer, that is way out-of-bounds, to put it in football parlance," Roorda said.

"The SLPOA is calling for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology. Roorda said he planned to speak to the NFL and the Rams to voice his organization's displeasure tomorrow. He also plans to reach out to other police organizations in St. Louis and around the country to enlist their input on what the appropriate response from law enforcement should be. Roorda warned, "I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights. Well I've got news for people who think that way, cops have first amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours. I'd remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser's products. 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."

[IronEagle]

Here is the complete statement from the SLPOA. There are some valid points to be taken from it.

Here is the complete statement from the SLPOA.

"St. Louis, Missouri (November 30, 2014) – 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.

"Five members of the Rams entered the field today exhibiting the "hands-up-don't-shoot" pose that has been adopted by protestors who accused Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson of murdering Michael Brown. 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.

"SLPOA Business Manager Jeff Roorda said, "now that the evidence is in and Officer Wilson's account has been verified by physical and ballistic evidence as well as eye-witness testimony, which led the grand jury to conclude that no probable cause existed that Wilson engaged in any wrongdoing, it is unthinkable that hometown athletes would so publicly perpetuate a narrative that has been disproven over-and-over again."

"Roorda was incensed that the Rams and the NFL would tolerate such behavior and called it remarkably hypocritical. "All week long, the Rams and the NFL were on the phone with the St. Louis Police Department asking for assurances that the players and the fans would be kept safe from the violent protesters who had rioted, looted, and burned buildings in Ferguson. Our officers have been working 12 hour shifts for over a week, they had days off including Thanksgiving cancelled so that they could defend this community from those on the streets that perpetuate this myth that Michael Brown was executed by a brother police officer and then, as the players and their fans sit safely in their dome under the watchful protection of hundreds of St. Louis's finest, they take to the turf to call a now-exonerated officer a murderer, that is way out-of-bounds, to put it in football parlance," Roorda said.

"The SLPOA is calling for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology. Roorda said he planned to speak to the NFL and the Rams to voice his organization's displeasure tomorrow. He also plans to reach out to other police organizations in St. Louis and around the country to enlist their input on what the appropriate response from law enforcement should be. Roorda warned, "I know that there are those that will say that these players are simply exercising their First Amendment rights. Well I've got news for people who think that way, cops have first amendment rights too, and we plan to exercise ours. I'd remind the NFL and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser's products. 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."

Ehh. I'll listen to police union apologists just as soon as teachers unions get equal treatment.