Several Rams players yesterday "created a stir during pregame introductions at the Edward Jones Dome by striking the 'Hands Up, Don’t Shoot' pose when they came out of the tunnel," according to Jim Thomas of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Rams WRs Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt and Chris Givens and TE Jared Cook "hatched the idea before the game." Rams coach Jeff Fisher said that he "didn’t see the gesture and was unaware of it." Britt said that he "didn’t want to bother Fisher before the game by telling him of the plans." The “Hands Up” gesture has been "used by protesters upset over the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown." Britt said that the gesture was not used "as an indication that they were taking sides." However, Thomas reports the St. Louis Police Officers Association in a statement said it was "profoundly disappointed." Jeff Roorda, the organization's business manager, said, "It is unthinkable that hometown athletes would so publicly perpetuate a narrative that has been disproven over-and-over again” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/1). CBS’ Gayle King reports the St. Louis police “want an apology” from the Rams and the NFL as “police call this move tasteless, offensive and inflammatory” (“CBS This Morning,” 12/1). The NFL this morning said it will not take action against the players (TWITTER.com, 12/1).
TAKING A STAND: ESPN's Jemele Hill said, “Here's the thing about when athletes speak out. We always say that we want them to ... use their platform for something that is bigger than themselves or to expose or bring awareness to something that's bigger than themselves. But only if it's something we agree about. See, everybody doesn't agree about Ferguson. There are a lot of different perspectives. Clearly it's a very racially charged case and it has brought out a lot of different emotions and some really tense and tough racial conversations. That's not easy for people to do, so I applaud them more for doing it knowing that the situation is as complicated as it is. This is taking place right in their backyard and they’re NFL players, but they're also black men. There's a long history statistically we can get all into it of the antagonistic relationship between African-Americans and the police, but in particular black men and the police. So these players felt like this was the opportunity to do that” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 12/1).
