NFL Won’t Punish St. Louis Rams For ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’ Gesture

Members of the St. Louis Rams raise their arms in awareness of the events in Ferguson, Mo., as they walk onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 30, ... Members of the St. Louis Rams raise their arms in awareness of the events in Ferguson, Mo., as they walk onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in St. Louis. The players said after the game, they raised their arms in a "hands up" gesture to acknowledge the events in Ferguson. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) MORE LESS
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The National Football League will not discipline St. Louis Rams players who stood with their arms up before their Sunday game to show support for the Ferguson protesters.

The St. Louis Police Association on Sunday night called on the NFL to punish the five players who entered the stadium with their hands up. The police group said the gesture was “tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.”

In a Monday statement to USA Today, the NFL said that no disciplinary action will be taken.

“We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey said after the game that they did not mean for the pose to be offensive or controversial.

“Violence should stop. There’s a lot of violence going on here in St. Louis. We definitely hear about it all, and we just want it to stop,” he said, according to USA Today.

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