The police union in Cleveland plans to not hold the American flag for the pregame ceremony for the football team that saw a dozen players – including the first white player – take a knee in protest of police brutality.
Union members had planned to participate in the flag ceremony prior to the protest from players on the Cleveland Browns on August 21 against the New York Giants in Cleveland, Ohio.
But after the protest, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Steve Loomis told Cleveland.com that they had to do something in response, deciding on not holding the flag.
The police union in Cleveland is planning to boycott the Cleveland Browns’ pregame ceremony in response to players kneeling to the National Anthem
‘It’s just ignorant for someone to do that. It just defies logic to me. The fact that management was aware of what they planned on doing, that’s as offensive as it can get,’ Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Steve Loomis
‘It’s just ignorant for someone to do that,’ Loomis said.
‘It just defies logic to me. The fact that management was aware of what they planned on doing, that’s as offensive as it can get.’
Loomis added that it is offensive that players not standing for the anthem is offensive because of the sacrifices of those who served
Loomis added that it is offensive that players not standing for the anthem to protest police brutality is offensive because of the sacrifices that men and women make for the players to enjoy their successes.
Perhaps what is most daunting to Loomis is the response from the team’s executives, who have not publicly criticized the players.
‘We respect their efforts to use their platform to make some change,’ said Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown.
The sentiment isn’t shared by Loomis.
‘When management allows you to do those things, then that’s on them,’ he said.
‘It’s hypocritical of the Browns management and ownership to want to have an armed forces first-responder day, and have us involved in it when they allow their players to take a knee during the national anthem.
Perhaps what is most daunting to Loomis is the response from the team’s executives, who have not publicly criticized the players
That’s the very representation of what we stand for. That’s why we aren’t going to [hold the flag].’
It was a sentiment also shared by EMT workers.
Since Colin Kaepernick first protested the national anthem last year as a call to end police brutality, police have threatened to boycott different NFL Teams
‘The NFL brags about how they love the military and safety forces and everything that we do for this country, but obviously they don’t show it because they’re not setting forth any rules about [the national anthem],’ Daniel Nemeth, president of a local branch of the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees, told HuffPost.
But Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia found empathy for both the players and the officer.
‘The union does not speak for the Division,’ Ciaccia told HuffPost.
‘The Division of Police is in no way boycotting the Browns, nor denying participation in events with our officers.’
Since Colin Kaepernick first protested the national anthem last year as a call to end police brutality, police have threatened to boycott different NFL Teams.
The California police union threatened to boycott the San Francisco 49ers.
A Florida police union asked its members and deputies not to escort Dolphin players from the stadium after they too took a knee.