Four Miami Dolphins football players kneeled during the national anthem last weekend as a sign of protest, and their actions are not sitting well with the local police.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association, which is a union representing the local sheriffs in the area, sent out a statement urging officers not to provide security detail for the Dolphins unless ordered to do so.
Here’s a look at the statement via The Miami Herald. The final paragraph is where union president Jeff Bell urges law enforcement not to provide security detail for the Dolphins.
“To Everyone,
“Today, I contacted the executive board of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association Local 6020 in reference to the actions of a few Miami Dolphin players. As a law enforcement union, we certainly encourage people to exercise their constitutional right of freedom of speech. However, in certain professions, an individual’s freedom of speech must take a back seat to the organization or government entity that they choose to represent. Even the NFL’s governing body and the ownership of individual teams set strict policies in order to make sure players represent the league in the most professional way.
“With this said, I can not fathom why the Miami Dolphin organization and the NFL would allow the blatant disrespect of the American Flag and what it stands for during the national anthem. It is a privilege to play in the NFL, not a given constitutional right. The Miami Dolphin players, staff and family members enjoy full police escorts from the Broward Sheriff’s Office on a regular basis. These escorts often involve putting the men and women of law enforcement agencies at risk as they block intersections during peak traffic times in order to expedite the travel time between facilities.
“We have buried coworkers who have unnecessarily lost their lives protecting the lives of individuals. Some law enforcement officers even lost their lives while protecting the lives of the very same individuals who were protesting against law enforcement. The Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association Local 6020 is seeking the immediate termination of all Miami Dolphin escorts until such time the Miami Dolphins and the National Football League set forth a policy that will not tolerate the disrespect of the American Flag and National Anthem during any sanctioned games or events.
“We no longer support an organization that values financial profit over a minimum conduct standard. What good is it to ask singers to sing the national anthem, honor guards to preform services or ask the United States Air Force to conduct fly overs during the National Anthem if the same organization will not even set a minimum code of conduct for its players?
“Until further notice, I respectfully ask all members of law enforcement not to work any detail associated with the Miami Dolphins unless ordered to do so. Again, I would also respectfully ask the Broward Sheriff’s Office to refuse any security details associated with the Miami Dolphins until such time the Miami Dolphin organization mandates a code of conduct for their players during all sanctioned events.”
Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Kenny Stills and Michael Thomas are the players who protested the anthem, following the trend started by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the preseason. Foster says he will continue to do so; Jenkins will not, while Stills and Thomas are still undecided.
The actions of the four men did not sit well with many, including one fellow athlete in Miami who blasted them.
