Five players for the St. Louis Rams came out for pre-game introductions on Sunday with their hands raised to the sky, presumably as a gesture of solidarity with protesters in Ferguson, Missouri.
Rams tight end Jared Cook and receivers Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin entered the Edward Jones Dome arena Sunday afternoon with their hands raised. Protesters in Ferguson and cities across the United States frequently chant, "Hands up, don’t shoot" during demonstrations, which have been ongoing since last week when a Missouri grand jury did not indict former police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown in August.
The slogan references reports that Brown had been shot with his hands raised in the air.
Update: Dec. 1, 11:50 a.m. The NFL has declined to discipline the players, despite requests from the St. Louis Police Association.
St Louis Police Assoc asked the NFL to discipline Rams players for their "hands up" gesture. The NFL says they won't. pic.twitter.com/mnHXINy4El— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) December 1, 2014
Here is a four-square photo of STL Rams #handsup solidarity w/#Ferguson Thank you @MatthewACherry pic.twitter.com/TwNonjCtYl”
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) November 30, 2014
Some of the players then repeated the gesture after the Rams' first touchdown against Oakland.
St. Louis touchdown! #HandsUpDontShoot @TreMason @KennyBritt_18 #Rams pic.twitter.com/7b1gTikVEC
— Joshua Neuman (@joshuaneuman) November 30, 2014
Many of the players and Rams coach Jeff Fisher said the team wished it could do more for the community, and that it hoped the game would offer a distraction from recent events, ESPN reported.
In addition to the hands-up gesture, just before the game, team players and staff locked arms during the U.S. national anthem "in support of St. Louis," according to the Rams' official Twitter account. The Rams did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment.
#Rams players and staff locked arms during National Anthem in support of St. Louis. pic.twitter.com/dLnR46jLbP
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) November 30, 2014
Ferguson protesters also demonstrated just outside the dome, drawing police.
And yes, the riot geared officers have arrived. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Kags5Un6xw
— deray mckesson (@deray) November 30, 2014
Moving into the street #Rams #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Ymioi1dcYe
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) November 30, 2014
Riot police outside the Dome pic.twitter.com/zqtInWR6sb
— Justin in Columbia (@JustinNColumbia) November 30, 2014
#Stl Police Chief Sam Dotson on the scene. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/ygFy1TT9Dr
— Nicholas J.C. Pistor (@nickpistor) November 30, 2014
UPDATED: 10:45 p.m. ET: The St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) is demanding an apology after several St. Louis Rams football players stepped on the field on Sunday afternoon with their hands raised in apparent solidarity with Ferguson protesters.
According to a statement obtained by KSDK, the SLPOA now wants the players to offer an apology for the gesture.
"[The players] take to the turf to call a now-exonerated officer a murderer, that is way out-of-bounds," said SLPOA Business Manager Jeff Roorda.
Later, the statement reads, "The SLPOA is calling for the players involved to be disciplined and for the Rams and the NFL to deliver a very public apology."
As of this writing, the NFL had not issued a public response to the statement. According to the SLPOA statement, Roorda plans to speak with the NFL directly regarding the actions of the players on Sunday.