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The Cleveland police union is protesting the Browns players in the most ironic way possible

People think this is ironic.

Photo of Josh Katzowitz

Josh Katzowitz

Cleveland Browns protest police patrol union

The Cleveland police union is so upset that about a dozen Browns players recently knelt during the national anthem before a preseason NFL game that it’s decided to not hold the American flag during the anthem before the first regular season contest next week.

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In other words …

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This isn’t the first time the Cleveland police union has been mad at the Browns organization. In 2014, after receiver Andrew Hawkins wore a shirt demanding justice for Tamir Rice—the 12-year-old who was shot by police in 2014—the union demanded an apology.

Jeff Follmer, then the Police Patrolman Union president, called Hawkins’ protest “pathetic” three years ago. Now, Steve Loomis, the current union president, called the Browns hypocritical for allowing their players to protest the national anthem.

“I’m here at a national police convention, and soon as they hear that I’m from Cleveland, the first question is, ‘What about those stinking Browns?’” Loomis told Fox 8. “So if the ownership of the Browns and the league are going to allow that type of stuff to happen, and then come to us and say, ‘We want you to help us with the flag,’ that’s hypocritical. We’re not going to participate.”

In a recent statement, via Cleveland.com, the Browns said, “As an organization, we have a profound respect for our country’s national anthem, flag and the servicemen and servicewomen in the United States and abroad. We feel it’s important for our team to join in this great tradition and special moment of recognition, at the same time we also respect the great liberties afforded by our country, including the freedom of personal expression.”

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About a dozen Browns last month kneelt during the anthem during a preseason game, including Seth DeValve, believed to be the first white NFL player to do so.

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For the record, the Cleveland police department is not involved, as a spokesperson told the Huffington Post. “The union does not speak for the Division. The Division of Police is in no way boycotting the Browns, nor denying participation in events with our officers.”

 
The Daily Dot