LSU Players Told Not To Wear School-Branded Gear When Discussing Sterling Case

The LSU athletic department in an email to its 350-plus athletes "communicated its 'respect and support' for them to publicly express their opinions" regarding the Alton Sterling shooting verdict, but "cautioned the athletes to be mindful of media attention and respectful to others," according to Ross Dellenger of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. The Department of Justice yesterday "announced that it has decided not to charge two white Baton Rouge police officers in the death of Sterling, a black man." The email encourages athletes to "avoid 'potentially violent situations' and insists they not wear LSU gear when expressing their opinion on the matter." Several LSU athletes "showed support for Sterling in July, most notably star running back Leonard Fournette, who posted a photo of himself wearing a T-shirt with an image of Sterling." The email reads, "If you choose to express your opinion on this issue, including on social media, we ask that you not wear LSU gear or use LSU branding" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 5/4).