NFL responds after Browns' Isaiah Crowell posts violent anti-law enforcement image
(FOX 11) - NFL player Isaiah Crowell with the Cleveland Browns posted a violent image of a hooded person slitting a police officers throat last week.
He posted an artistic rendering of someone slitting a police officer's throat after police officers shot two black men last week -- but before the Dallas shooting.
Crowell wrote under the image: "Mood. They give polices all types of weapons and they continuously choose to kill us. #weak"
Protestors fighting for black rights at the Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday had mixed reactions:
"It perpetuates hate, rage, and anger. And I don't want to see that," said Morris Griffin.
"When violence is taken upon a community, I think it's naive to not expect violence back. So I won't condemn that picture," said one protestor who did not want to give her name.
Crowell took the image down soon after posting it, but the message left an impact.
LAPD officers alerted their union about the image.
"When you post extremist and dangerous rhetoric like that online, what ultimately happens is you just fuel the flame of violence against police officers," said Robert Harris, the director for the L.A. Police Protective League.
On Monday, Crowell tweeted the following:
"Last week was an emotional and difficult week as we saw extreme acts of violence against black men across our country as well as against police officers in Dallas. I posted an image to Instagram in the midst of that emotion that I shouldn't have and immediately removed it. It was an extremely poor decision and I apologize for that mistake and for offending people. My values and beliefs do not match that image. I am outraged and upset by the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile along with so many others. I am also outraged and saddened by the attacks in Dallas and the deaths of the 5 honorable police officers (Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael J. Smith, Brent Thompson and Patrick Zamarripa) who were providing protection while trying to keep peace. We have to be better as a society, it's not about color, it's about what's right and wrong. I was very wrong in posting that image. Every single life matters, every death as a result of violence should be treated with equal outrage and penalty."
But the L.A. police union says an apology doesn't change what's now out there.
"It doesn't erase or take back what his initial mistake was. He is part of the larger problem of the angry, irrational rhetoric that goes on that endorses and condones the type of violence we see against law enforcement," said Harris.
The Cleveland Browns released this statement:
"We have spoken to Isaiah regarding his extremely disturbing and unacceptable social media decision. It was completely inappropriate and we have made him aware of our high level of disappointment. Isaiah has apologized but also knows that just an apology is insufficient and that he must take steps to make a positive difference after a very negative and impactful post."
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