Even though he has received threats, St. Louis Rams tight end Jared
Cook stressed Wednesday that he did not intend disrespect toward police
when he and other Rams players made the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture
before Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.
Cook acknowledged to reporters Wednesday that he has received hateful messages on Facebook.
"Well, I mean that's how
people choose to operate their lives," Cook said. "I feel like as men,
just like me and you, are communicating right now, and just like me and
you are talking right now, we should be able to sit down and talk about
our problems. There is no reason to send threats or to hype up a
situation that's already intensified. We can sit down and talk about our
problems. If we can't, then let's just agree to disagree. There's no
wrong in that. People have different opinions. People have different
views. We're grown."
Black St. Louis police officers: 'Hands up' gesture by Rams players 'commendable'
When asked if he had received a lot of threats, Cook answered, "Absolutely."
The gesture that Cook and
teammates Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt
made when taking the field Sunday is the same one protesters have used
to decry the death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown.
That angered the St.
Louis Police Officers Association, saying the players "chose to ignore
the mountains of evidence released from the St. Louis County Grand Jury"
after the jurors decided not to indict former Ferguson officer Darren
Wilson.
But Cook said Wednesday they respect police.
"Why would we come at the
police in a disrespectful way when we work with the police in the
community all of the time?" Cook said. "The police are up here every
day. There were four police cars here this morning when I pulled into
work. The police have picnics during the summer in our parking lot where
they bring their kids and children to meet and greet and have fun with
us. So why would I disrespect a group of men that we have complete
respect for in the community that helps us every day?"
Cook said their action was an example of a peaceful protest.
" 'Hands up, don't
shoot' is not just a Ferguson thing," Cook said. "It's a worldwide
thing. People are doing it in New York. People are doing it in Florida.
People are doing it on the West Coast. It's not just about Ferguson.
It's a message worldwide that for young adults that you can protest and
you can do things peacefully without getting out of line."
The NFL said earlier this week that the players won't be disciplined.
Image : Source
COMMENTS