St. Louis Rams Show Support for Ferguson by Holding Hands Up Before Game
November 30, 2014
Update from Monday, Dec. 1
NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy said the league will not discipline the St. Louis Rams players who showed support for Ferguson on Sunday, per CNN's Rachel Nichols.
As well, the Rams organization will not fine the players, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Head coach Jeff Fisher confirmed that the players will not face punishment.
Update from Sunday, Nov. 30
The St. Louis Police Officers Association has released a statement voicing strong disapproval of the Rams players' pregame display (via KSDK, h/t Deadspin.com). Here is an excerpt of the statement:
The St. Louis Police Officers Association is profoundly disappointed with the members of the St. Louis Rams football team who chose to ignore the mountains of evidence released from the St. Louis County Grand Jury this week and engage in a display that police officers around the nation found tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.
Original Text
The St. Louis Rams want the people of Ferguson, Missouri, to know they are behind them during a rough time.
Before Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders, several Rams players—including receivers Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt—showed their support by doing the "hands up, don't shoot" signal that has become popular among protesters.
After the Rams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, the gesture made another appearance.
As Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star reported earlier in the week, there was a chance this game would have to be moved because of the protests. In the end, the game remained in St. Louis. That gave the Rams the opportunity to show a sign of solidarity to the hometown crowd.
[Vine, Twitter]