NFL Rams’ 'Hands Up Don’t Shoot' Pose ‘Tasteless, Offensive, and Inflammatory’ Says St. Louis Cops

Barbara Boland | December 1, 2014
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Five members of the St. Louis Rams offensive line entered the field with a “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose in apparent solidarity with protestors of the death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in the nearby town of Ferguson.

Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, and Kenny Britt “came out with their hands up, before being joined by the rest of the team to start the game,” reported Deadspin.

In the background, some of the crowd cheers the move, while others can be heard to boo.

The Rams then set a franchise record for the most points scored in the first half.

A Rams spokesman said Sunday they were not aware that the gesture had been planned.

Since the grand jury decline to indict police officer Darren Wilson in Brown’s death last week, there has been riots and looting in nearby Ferguson.

The players’ “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose was “tasteless, offensive, and inflammatory” according to the St. Louis Police Officers Association. The  SLPOA is asking the for the players to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to “deliver a very public apology.”

From the SLOPOA statement:

[SLPOA Business Manager Jeff] 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."

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