The Washington Redskins wanted to make a statement about the events taking place in Ferguson, Mo., and they used “Monday Night Football” as a stage to do so.
The Redskins ran onto FedExField before their game against the Cleveland Browns, and some players put their hands up to show their support of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was shot and killed by a police officer in the small city outside St. Louis. The gesture has become a symbol of the protests in Ferguson, as witnesses to the shooting say the teenager had his hands up before he was shot, although police gave conflicting reports.
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CBS DC learned that the idea was Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather’s.
“We just want to show our supporters what’s going on in St. Louis,” Meriweather said. “We just wanted to show support.”
For some players, the issues in Ferguson hit very close to home.
“That could have been any one of us,” Redskins free safety Ryan Clark said. “That could have been any one of our brothers, our cousins. … When you get an opportunity to make a statement and be more than a football player, it’s good.”
