The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), representing a majority of black officers in St. Louis, has taken a bold stand and issued a statement supporting the Rams’ Hands Up, Don’t Shoot gesture. ESOP goes on to explain that there is slim to no black representation on the boards of the Fraternal Order of Police & the Police Officers Association. So, they broke away, expressing 100% support to the Rams, calling their actions “commendable,” even praising them on “taking a stand on this very important issue.” Read the actual statement issued by these African-American officers after the jump!
via SB Nation:
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the organization called the players’ actions “commendable.” The ESOP further broke from the police union’s stance saying that the players should not be punished (which both the NFL and Rams declined to do) and instead praised the players for “taking a stand on this very important issue which is of great concern around the world and especially in the community where these players work.”
The Police Officers Association issued a statement following Sunday’s game calling for the five players — Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook and Chris Givens — to be disciplined and demanding an apology from the NFL and the Rams.
The Fraternal Order of Police, the nation’s largest police union, sent letters to the NFL and the NFLPA “expressing disappointment” with the Rams players, using language similar to the letter sent by the St. Louis police organization.
After the game, players told the press that they made the “Hands Up” gesture as a show of support for the community and as an effort to raise awareness of the issues dividing the community exposed in the wake of Michael Brown’s shooting death by former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in August.
On Monday, the St. Louis County Police chief claimed that Rams officials apologized for the players. The Rams denied making an apology. Team officials and the police department were reportedly going to continue meeting this week over the issue.
Here’s an excerpt from the ESOP statement:
THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE, is the primary voice of African American Police Officers in St. Louis City, and as such it COMPLETELY SUPPORTS THE ACTIONS OF THE ST. LOUIS RAMS FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN WHICH THEY SHOWED SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL BROWN BY ENTERING THE STADIUM WITH THEIR HANDS UP.
We think that their actions were commendable and that they should not be ridiculed, disciplined or punished for taking a stand on this very important issue which is of great concern around the world and especially in the community where these players work.
THE STATEMENTS OF THE ST. LOUIS POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE MAJORITY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICERS ON THEIR GOVERNING BOARD AND THEY HAVE A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEMBERS.
The Ethical Society of Police has been the primary bridge between African American community and the police department for many years. The Ethical Society will use its best efforts to continue to work with the community leaders and the Department of Justice to address issues that affect our community such as racial profiling, police brutality and disparities in hiring and disciplining practices of African American Officers.
