Cleveland police union demands apology for Browns' Tamir Rice protest

Cleveland police union demands apology for Browns&#039; Tamir Rice protest

(Image credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Most people will remember Sunday's matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals as the less-than-stellar debut of quarterback Johnny Manziel. But the Cleveland Police Patrolman Union apparently paid most attention to the "Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford III" shirts worn by Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins and at least one other Browns player before the game:

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Rice, 12, and Crawford, both black, were shot dead by Ohio police while holding toy guns. "It's pretty pathetic when athletes think they know the law," said Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland police union, in a statement. "They should stick to what they know best on the field. The Cleveland Police protect and serve the Browns stadium and the Browns organization owes us an apology." Because that worked so well for the St. Louis police union.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.