Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill is used to people standing when they’re supposed to stand, such as they when the bailiff calls, “all rise,” in a court of law. However, a particular group of people who took a knee when they should have stood on Monday Night Football, have the Buckeye State judge ready to hold them in contempt.
After watching a dozen Cleveland Browns players take a knee in protest, during the national anthem last Monday night. Justice O’Neill went to Facebook and announced that, as far as the Browns were concerned, his season had ended before it even began.
O’Neill wrote, “Congratulations Cleveland Browns on your win. Unfortunately my season ended last night. I will NEVER attend a sporting event where the draft dodging millionaire athletes disrespect the veterans who earned them the right to be on that field. Shame on you all. William O’Neill, LTC, US Army, Retired. Vietnam veteran; son of a World II veteran; proud father of an Iraq veteran.”
While the draft comment seems a bit curious, considering, there is no draft. The rest sounds very similar to the sentiment expressed by VFW 3345 in Strongsville, Ohio. A group of veterans who banned all Browns games from their facility after Monday night’s protest.
The Browns players claim they were praying for peace during the anthem. Though, given the post-game comments of protester Seth DeValve, it’s clear the group supported the ideals behind the protest movement begun by Colin Kaepernick.
According to the Washington Examiner, this altercation between O’Neill and the Browns, isn’t the only instance in which judges and those who wish to protest. As the Examiner notes, “In a separate clash this week between judges and prayerful demonstrators at sporting events, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week against a high school football coach who was suspended for kneeling in prayer after his team’s games.”
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