The St. Louis Police Department’s hissy fit about St. Louis Rams players kicking off a home game with a “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture fell on deaf ears at the NFL. The league’s governing body is declining to discipline the players or to order them to issue a public apology to the SLPD.
“We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation,” the NFL’s Brian McCarthy said in a statement. The police department chose to interpret the gesture as “tasteless, offensive and inflammatory” — and not at all like its dealings with Ferguson protestors.
Five Rams players took part in the protest. “It’s dangerous out there. None of us want to get caught up in that,” said tight end Jared Cook. “We wanted to come out and show our respect to the protesters that have been doing a heck of a job.”
