Less than four weeks ahead the 2018-19 NFL football season, the Broward County Police Benevolent Association in South Florida is calling for a boycott of their hometown team over their preseason protests.
On Thursday, the Miami Dolphins faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens to kick off the preseason. Just ahead of the game, Dolphins receivers Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills took a knee during the national anthem, while DE Robert Quinn raised his fist, in their renewed fight against racial inequality and police brutality.
Despite the cause, many, including Donald Trump, and Broward PBA Vice President Rod Skirvin have condemned the protests, with most classifying it as an act of “disrespect” toward our nation and its flag.
In fact, after Thursday’s game, the police union released a statement on Facebook, expressing its disappointment in the players’ protests.
“We entered into this partnership with the understanding that the Dolphins organization would require their players to stand for the national anthem,” the statement read, referencing a recently altered NFL policy that would penalize players for protesting. However, the policy has since been placed on hold after widespread backlash over the new rule.
“This did not happen at [Thursday’s] preseason game against Tampa Bay,” the statement continued. “As a result, the BCPBA will no longer participate in this ticket program, and we are asking all of our members, as well as members of the Dade County PBA and Palm Beach County PBA, not to participate either.”
“If you have already purchased tickets to this game, we encourage you to call the Dolphins ticket office to request a refund because this organization obviously does not honor first responders and the dangers they put themselves in every day,” the statement read, ultimately declining the league’s invitation to the November game, which is slated to honor first responders.
As Skirvin explained further, he said the protests were simply a slap in the face.
“It’s a slap in the face,” Skirvin said. “We have a lot of police officers in the county who are ex-military. It’s not just a slap in the face to our military – past and present – but to all law enforcement officers across the country. As long as the protests continues, we will protest our attendance at the Dolphins games and continue to stay away from the NFL and its products.”
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