You’ve Been Served! Woke NFL Hit With Indy Cop’s Defamation Lawsuit

Jay Maxson | June 15, 2021
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The overly woke NFL just got flagged for what could be a very costly lawsuit filed by an Indianapolis policeman. The officer is De’Joure Mercer, who was cleared by a grand jury of any wrongdoing in the fatal 2020 shooting of Dreasjon Reed. On Monday, he sued the NFL for "substantial compensatory damages" for implying he committed criminal acts during the incident.

Mercer, like Reed, is black. On May 6, 2020, the cop stopped Reed for reckless driving. Reed fled from the scene, cursing and shooting at the police officer. Mercer returned fire and killed the suspect. Police discovered a text thread on Reed’s phone indicating he had stolen a gun and was also involved in two drive-by shootings. Police officers had also exercised restraint during the high-speed chase so that citizens would not be killed or injured.

While the wide woke world of sports was honoring criminals like Reed, Jacob Blake and others last year, a grand jury completely cleared Mercer in November.

Related: Why Is LeBron Most Hated in NBA? Fox Sports Panelists Haven’t A Clue

Unfazed by the inconvenient facts of the Indianapolis case, the NFL soon included Reed in its “Say Their Stories” campaign. The NFL inferred police misconduct by Mercer in messages designed to “honor victims of systemic racism, victims of police misconduct, and social justice heroes.” The criminal Reed was also recognized by NFL players and coaches last season during the league’s helmet decal program.

Mercer is requesting a jury trial and "substantial compensatory damages." His attorney, Guy Relford, said:

"The (v)ideo gives rise to the inference, implication, and imputation that Mercer committed occupational misconduct and even criminal acts during the May 6 (e)ncounter with Reed, similar to that which were inflicted upon George Floyd. This inference, implication, and imputation is false because Mercer committed no such acts."

Relford called Mercer “a hero” who tracked down a very dangerous criminal. "He put his life on the line and was nearly killed in that effort. He was completely exonerated after an exhaustive investigation into the death of Mr. Reed. For NFL Enterprises then to suggest he was involved in police or racist misconduct is totally false, defamatory, and unacceptable. What happened here has nothing to do with racism.”

Officer Mercer is taking a stand for the many good cops across the nation. He’s sending a message that “before you accuse a decorated police officer of misconduct in a national campaign, you had better get your facts straight."

Nevertheless, USA Today closed its story by refuting Mercer’s claim about how many shots he fired. 

The triggered, cop-canceling behavior by the NFL during the past season was atrocious. It’s careless rush to judgement was foolish and may end up to be very damaging.

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