On Sunday, five St. Louis Rams players raised their hands during pre-game introductions in order to show support for Ferguson protesters.
That decision has since spun off into its own controversy. The St. Louis Police Officers Association called on the Rams to apologize and face discipline for their actions (the NFL has declined to punish any Rams players for their actions). A St. Louis sports bar has decided to not show any Rams games due to the players’ actions as well.
The actions also didn’t escape the eyes of John Carlos. If there is anyone who knows the power (and controversy) of making a political statement at a sporting event, it’s Carlos. The 1968 bronze medalist was one of two Olympic athletes (the other being Tommie Smith) who famously raised his fist in the air during the 1968 Olympics.
The two athletes had raised their fists two draw attention to human rights reform, an especially charged issue seeing as Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated just a half year before the ’68 Olympic Games began. The two ended up being suspended from the U.S. team and banned from the Olympic Village.
So, one could say that Carlos has been in this sort of situation before. Needless to say, he was very approving of the statement that the Rams players made on Sunday:
“(The Rams players) realize that there is a need for a voice and they had the right opportunity — like we did — to be that voice, to be heard.”
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“Their job was to go out and to play football, that doesn’t preclude them from what’s happening in society,” he said. “They’re concerned about humanity, with young black kids being gun downed.”
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Carlos said none of the five players needs to apologize.
“They speak volumes for those who cannot speak up,” he said.
The Rams have not asked the players to apologize for their actions and they have no plans to do so.
JUST IN: Rams release statement regarding the “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture that 5 players made yesterday. pic.twitter.com/JK28GnVW97
— FOX Sports Live (@FOXSportsLive) December 2, 2014
“At no time in any of the conversations did I apologize for the actions of our players.” — Kevin Demoff to me just a moment ago.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 2, 2014
