A Texas Democratic Congressman is looking to honor a group of football players who took to the field with their hands up showing solidarity with the protesters in Ferguson Missouri who grew upset after a grand jury no billed the police officer who shot Michael Brown in self-defense.
In defending his view, the politician equated America’s greatest heroes with criminals stating that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were not perfect but they are honored.
Five football players with St. Louis Rams took to the field a few days ago with their hands up in a gesture that has become synonym of the protests since Brown’s supporters claim that the 6 feet 4 inches 300 pound teenager had his hands up rather than attacking police officer Darren Wilson.
Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green told members of the House on Wednesday that he plans to fly the flag over the capitol of the U.S. to honor each of the players some who have a criminal record that took that controversial stand, CSNnews.com reported.
“Somebody is going to say ‘well what about people who may have committed a crime?'” Green told the publication. “[George] Washington wasn’t perfect but we honored him. Jefferson wasn’t perfect but we honor him.”
The gesture drew the ire of legendary football coach Mike Ditka who spoke with USA Today disapprovingly about the actions of the five players. “I’m embarrassed for the players more than anything,” Ditka said in his interview. “They want to take a political stand on this? Well there are a lot of other things that have happened in our society that people have not stood up and disagreed about … I don’t want to hear about this hands up crap.”
Follow Ildefonso Ortiz on Twitter @ildefonsoortiz
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