Bickering over Apologies in Ferguson
On Sunday five players on the Saint Louis Rams football team made the "Hands up, don't shoot!" gesture showing solidarity with police shooting victim Michael Brown before their game against the Oakland Raiders. This news photo shows their silent display:
Image from NBC News
By Sunday night the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) issued a statement condemning the act, calling for the players to be disciplined and demanding a public apology. Example coverage: "SLPOA condemns Rams display" at KDSK News.
On Monday a Rams executive called the St. Louis police chief to discuss the situation. From there, accounts diverge. After the call the police chief reported that the Rams had apologized. The team executive disagreed, noting that while he expressed "regret" for the players' actions "being construed negatively" he specifically did not use the terms "sorry" or "apologize". The chief responded via Twitter with a clumsy attempt to school the Rams on the definition of apology.
Hey, SLPOA. You want an apology? Let's start with yours for the fact that a young man was killed in the streets. ...And you tried to conceal who did it. ...And you tried to suppress an entire community's First and Fourth Amendment rights. ...And you roughed up and falsely arrested reporters who tried to cover it. ...And....
Image from NBC News
By Sunday night the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) issued a statement condemning the act, calling for the players to be disciplined and demanding a public apology. Example coverage: "SLPOA condemns Rams display" at KDSK News.
On Monday a Rams executive called the St. Louis police chief to discuss the situation. From there, accounts diverge. After the call the police chief reported that the Rams had apologized. The team executive disagreed, noting that while he expressed "regret" for the players' actions "being construed negatively" he specifically did not use the terms "sorry" or "apologize". The chief responded via Twitter with a clumsy attempt to school the Rams on the definition of apology.
Hey, SLPOA. You want an apology? Let's start with yours for the fact that a young man was killed in the streets. ...And you tried to conceal who did it. ...And you tried to suppress an entire community's First and Fourth Amendment rights. ...And you roughed up and falsely arrested reporters who tried to cover it. ...And....