Monday, October 16, 2017

Saints players stay on knee during moment of silence for fallen police officer—and fans aren’t happy. Supporting felons?

Saints players stay on knee during moment of silence for fallen police officer—and fans aren’t happy


What happened?

  • Most New Orleans Saints players took a knee prior to the national anthem at their Sunday home game against the Detroit Lions and then stood for the anthem, just as they did the previous week, ESPN reported.
  • Problem was that players remained in their take-a-knee position during a moment of silence for fallen New Orleans Police Officer Marcus McNeil, 29, who was killed in the line of duty Friday, NOLA.com said.

How did fans react?

  • Fans apparently didn’t like that one bit, and they booed the players, NOLA.com added.
  • Fans then cheered as the players stood for the anthem, NOLA.com said.
Here’s a clip:

What happened to Officer McNeil?

  • McNeil was one of four officers patrolling an area around 12:15 a.m. Friday when they “saw something that aroused their suspicion,” NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison told NOLA.com in a separate story.
  • When at least one officer exited a police car, a gunman opened fire and struck McNeil several times, the outlet reported.
  • McNeil collapsed at the scene and was pronounced dead at a hospital, NOLA.com said.
  • The gunman was shot several times and later surrendered to a SWAT team, Harrison told the outlet, which reported that the gunman was arrested and is recovering at a hospital.
  • McNeil was sworn in as an officer April 2, 2015, and is survived by his wife and two children, ages 2 and 5, NOLA.com reported.

What did others have to say about the Saints’ kneeling?

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