Cleveland Browns' Andrew Hawkins Slammed by Police Union for Tribute to Tamir Rice
Cleveland Browns running back Andrew Hawkins has come under fire from police after wearing a shirt with the words "Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford" over his uniform on Sunday.
"It's pretty pathetic when athletes think they know the law. They should stick to what they know best on the field," Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association President Jeff Follmer told ABC News 5. "The Cleveland police protect and serve the Browns stadium and the Browns organization owes us an apology."
Hawkins' shirt drew the ire of the police; the 12-year-old was shot by Cleveland officer Timothy Loehmann on Nov. 22 and was instantly killed. His death caused a great deal of outrage after footage of the shooting, which showed that Loehmann drew his weapon and fired within seconds of pulling up to Rice. A medical examiner determined that the boy died of "a gunshot wound of the torso with injuries of major vessel, intestines and pelvis," which he labeled homicide.
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Rice's death is only the latest in a string of officer-related deaths, and Hawkins is not the first professional player to show his support for victims. The St. Louis Rams came under fire for entering the field with their hands up in a gesture associated with Michael Brown, who was killed by officer Darren Wilson; several NBA stars wore t-shirts supporting Eric Garner, who was put in an illegal chokehold and killed by members of the NYPD.
"We have great respect for the Cleveland Police Department and the work that they do to protect and serve our city. We also respect our players' rights to project their support and bring awareness to issues that are important to them if done so in a responsible manner," the Browns said in a response to the officers' union.
Fellow teammate Johnson Bademosi wore a shirt with the phrase "I Can't Breathe," which are Garner's last words, to a game earlier this month and wrote about the experience, explaining why, on Dec. 10.
"My T-shirt was a tribute to the life of Eric Garner and to the countless black men victimized by our country's never-ending hegemony, and an expression of the feelings that my teammates and I felt while we were discussing these issues. Others had their own ways of supporting the cause, keeping it in their thoughts, prayers, etc. and I fully support that as well. Ultimately, every individual has to do what is best for himself and his family. I'm not losing any sleep over my decision," Bademosi wrote.
