Before the St. Louis Rams game home against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, several Rams players pantomimed the “Hand ups! Don’t shoot!” pose during warm-ups in a protest against the Ferguson decision.
The silent protest got the attention of the St. Louis Police Association, but they were none too pleased about the pre-game antics.
In fact, the association released a statement in which they described themselves as “profoundly disappointed,” with the players’ action.
The association asserted that the players were “out-of-bounds,” in protesting a decision that had been thoroughly and diligently reached over several stressful and anxiety-filled months.
Likewise, St. Louis Police Association saw the act as disrespectful towards the men and women who have worked countless hours ensuring safety since the decision in Ferguson and St. Louis.
However, today the NFL announced that they will not discipline the players who partook in the protest.
The five Rams players – Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook, and Chris Givens – did not notify the Rams organization of their protest before Sunday’s game.
Protesters of the Ferguson decision made the pose famous in walks and demonstrations across the country, protesting the announcement to not indict former-officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.
It was widely reported that Brown had his hands up – just as the Rams players did – before Wilson shot him in an altercation on August 9th.
There has been no word on whether the Rams organization will discipline its own players on the protest.
