MORE THAN A GAME

Cops Rebuke Rams for Brown Tribute

Players used “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose.

St. Louis police officers condemned a pre-game display of solidarity with slain teenager Michael Brown by some St. Louis Rams as “tasteless, offensive, and inflammatory.” Five members of the Rams paid tribute to Brown before their Sunday game against the Oakland Raiders. Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, and Kenny Britt entered the field with their arms raised in the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose in recognition of Brown. Sunday marked the first game the Rams played since a grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson for fatally shooting the 18-year-old Brown in August. The players and coaches for the St. Louis Rams also locked arms during the National Anthem as a sign of solidarity. A lengthy statement issued by the St. Louis Police Officers Association demanded Bailey, Austin, Cook, Givens, and Britt be disciplined for their gesture.