# Ram Players disrespect St Louis Police. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 1, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011 "2014-12-01T05:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/61 "2014-12-02T03:06:52Z")
Of course. But Dr. King and his followers kept it peaceful. That was the genius of his plan. His organization obtained the proper permits to march. They kept it peaceful and lawful. The police had no choice except to protect the marches. Even the racist cops found themselves protecting the marches because they had to. They were lawful marches. Sadly there were a few cases where the police did allow people to attack the marches but that was the exception. Most of the time Dr. King’s strategy worked. Night and day difference in the rioting and looting in Ferguson. The peaceful protesters were overwhelmed by the thugs and opportunists. There’s no comparison at all to the 1960’s marches. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/62 "2014-12-02T03:11:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Fraid not. That was another generation. Not mine. I barely was in the 2nd grade. I wasn’t exactly following the news then. I did play a fine game of marbles in the playground. I’d stick to that, if i were you. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/63 "2014-12-02T03:13:23Z")
Five football players raising their hands is not peaceful? And are you totally unaware that Dr. King was arrested 30 times? What these five players did was peanuts compared to King. I swear, your lack of perspective on these events is simply shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/64 "2014-12-02T03:21:52Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > There’s a reason why Carlos and Smith went all the way to Australia to be pallbearers at his funeral. Indeed. I did not mean to suggest that Norman was an uninvolved bystander, rather that his stand was a simple, conscious one of solidarity, often overlooked, but for which he paid a considerable personal price. We should be so lucky, as to see NFL players today with as much courage. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/65 "2014-12-02T03:23:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Of course. But Dr. King and his followers kept it peaceful. That was the genius of his plan. His organization obtained the proper permits to march. They kept it peaceful and lawful. The police had no choice except to protect the marches. Even the racist cops found themselves protecting the marches because they had to. They were lawful marches. Sadly there were a few cases where the police did allow people to attack the marches but that was the exception. Most of the time Dr. King’s strategy worked. > > Night and day difference in the rioting and looting in Ferguson. The peaceful protesters were overwhelmed by the thugs and opportunists. There’s no comparison at all to the 1960’s marches. Do you truly not understand that the rioting and looting are separate from the protests? There are hundreds of protesters in Ferguson. Thousands nationwide. There are a handful that are taking advantage of chaos to engage in mayhem. They are a tiny minority. The Rams players were showing solidarity with those engaged in peaceful protest, not the agitators. These protests have been ongoing since August. Damage was done on a handful of nights, and is extremely limited in geographic scope. The vast, vast majority of protests are completely peaceful. Your ignorance on this subject is simply astounding. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/66 "2014-12-02T03:23:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The police had no choice except to protect the marches. Even the racist cops found themselves protecting the marches because they had to. They were lawful marches. Sadly there were a few cases where the police did allow people to attack the marches but that was the exception. Most of the time Dr. King’s strategy worked. You didn’t get much of an education on the Civil Rights Era, I’m afraid. The police beat the crap out of the marchers. They didn’t allow the marchers to march peacefully. President Kennedy had to Federalize the Alabama National Guard and send in military troops to protect the marchers on their one successful march, the one to Montgomery. You’ve got a really poor grasp of the facts here. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/67 "2014-12-02T03:27:23Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Indeed. I did not mean to suggest that Norman was an uninvolved bystander, rather that his stand was a simple, conscious one of solidarity, often overlooked, but for which he paid a considerable personal price. I see. I still think it’s a misstatement, though, to say he “simply stood beside” them — it at least gives the subsequent actions of the government more context (though not more justification). ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/68 "2014-12-02T03:31:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Sure, I’ve seen the photo. I guess it was maybe in the early 80’s in college. One of my English classes read books on King and the Civil Rights movement. We wrote a couple papers based on our research. I was very impressed at how well planned and peaceful the marches were. That was no accident. King’s group, the SCLC held training sessions. Teaching the marchers to ignore slurs and other attacks. King understood how important it was to keep the marches orderly and peaceful. King only had one march veer out of control and that was the labor march in Memphis. I don’t think the SCLC had the time to organize that march. > > By the time I saw the Olympics photo it was just another image of the Civil Rights movement. I’d seen dozens and dozen researching my papers. It didn’t have the same effect on me as someone living through that time. I was much more moved by the images of dogs attacking marchers in Birmingham and the images of Dr King’s death. You’ve been to college? ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/69 "2014-12-02T03:49:37Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Are you out of your damned mind?!? > > That Olympic moment is now legendary. It’s one of the most iconic moments of the 20th century. And you’re riled up about five football players doing a gesture that probably won’t be remembered in a month? > > I have to ask this question, and it’s not a joke: have you ever seen or heard of the 1968 Olympic Black Power salute incident before I linked to the photo? Because calling it “not a big deal” is just totally out of touch with one of the most remarkable protests in the postwar era. By the way, since I posted my response and went to dinner without checking, nice ninjaing! You even predicted the exact same timeframe in which the football protest will be forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/70 "2014-12-02T03:56:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Of course. But Dr. King and his followers kept it peaceful. That was the genius of his plan. His organization obtained the proper permits to march. They kept it peaceful and lawful. The police had no choice except to protect the marches. Even the racist cops found themselves protecting the marches because they had to. They were lawful marches. Sadly there were a few cases where the police did allow people to attack the marches but that was the exception. Most of the time Dr. King’s strategy worked. > > Night and day difference in the rioting and looting in Ferguson. The peaceful protesters were overwhelmed by the thugs and opportunists. There’s no comparison at all to the 1960’s marches. Night and day difference between the rioting in Ferguson and five football players making a non-violent gesture on the field, too. The gestures by the Rams are exactly like Dr. King’s peaceful demonstrations. How you can think they would incite a riot in the stadium is way past me. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/71 "2014-12-02T04:00:04Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Are you fucking kidding me? This thread is a master class in how NOT to open a Pit thread. It should be made into a sticky as an object lesson for future OPs. It would be a terrible Pit thread if it were in the Pit. Even as a Game Room thread, it’s terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/72 "2014-12-02T04:33:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It would be a terrible Pit thread if it were in the Pit. Even as a Game Room thread, it’s terrible. :o Yeah, my bad. I just assumed it was another RO thread in the Pit. Oops. Still, I don’t _think_ I broke any rules with my post, so no harm, no foul, right? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/73 "2014-12-02T04:44:47Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I swear, your lack of perspective on these events is simply shocking. Lack of perspective seems to be the norm in today’s right-wing America. I don’t mean to condemn **Aceplace57** specifically – I don’t know even remember if he’s a right-winger (like one of America’s major parties) or a looney racist (like the other party), but lack of perspective today is amazing. Benghazi is up there with Pearl Harbor and 9/11 as one of America’s great tragedies if you follow the yakkers. > [@aceplace57](#): > > We owe a lot to Dr. King and the SCLC for preventing a race war. Just like Mandela prevented one in S Africa. But for me it is history of a very troubled time in the US. :smack: I think Blacks, and all good-spirited Americans, thank Dr. King for much more than just “preventing a race war.” And to call it a “troubled time” is to overlook the outcome. Unless you think the Civil Rights Act was part of the “trouble.” And now these uppity black athletes are at it again. Don’t they know their place? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/74 "2014-12-02T04:51:54Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > You didn’t get much of an education on the Civil Rights Era, I’m afraid. The police beat the crap out of the marchers. They didn’t allow the marchers to march peacefully. President Kennedy had to Federalize the Alabama National Guard and send in military troops to protect the marchers on their one successful march, the one to Montgomery. You’ve got a really poor grasp of the facts here. That could be because our teacher focused on Thurgood Marshall’s role in using the courts to aid the civil rights movement. He argued several key cases before the Supreme Court. His lawyers fought in the courts to get permits to march. Marshall understood that segregation could be successfully fought in the courts. We focused a lot on that strategy. But as you said, even with permits the cops didn’t always protect the marchers. There was always the human factor that resulted in violence. I’m by no means knowledgeable. Graduate students in history can easily write their thesis on just one small part of the movement. It’s a complex topic. I admire the courage of the people that stood up for change. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/75 "2014-12-02T05:02:56Z")
They didn’t ever protect the marchers. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/76 "2014-12-02T05:03:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I admire the courage of the people that stood up for change. Unless they’re football players “disrespecting” my cop heroes! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/77 "2014-12-02T05:44:16Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > Unless they’re football players “disrespecting” my cop heroes! I’d love to see them get involved off the field. For example why not go to Ferguson and lead volunteers in cleaning up some of the mess? Those five NFL players could easily attract a 100 volunteers to spend the day helping out. It would get a lot of press attention and present a positive image from Ferguson. I have no issue at all with them speaking out. Just not during a game. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/78 "2014-12-02T05:48:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m by no means knowledgeable. This is the most knowledgeable thing you have ever posted. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/79 "2014-12-02T05:50:23Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Your ignorance on this subject is simply astounding. Nah, I’d say it’s about par for the course for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011/80 "2014-12-02T06:06:33Z")
One of these days, a player ask if we can all get along during a press conference and reincite the Rodney King riots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-players-disrespect-st-louis-police/706011.md?page=5)