The head of Cleveland’s police union has threatened to pull his officers from Browns games over a controversial Instagram post by Cleveland running back Isaiah Crowell.
Last week, after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Crowell posted a picture on Instagram of a police officer’s throat being slit. Crowell posted the photo before the killings of five Dallas officers last Thursday. He later removed the post and apologized.
But Stephen Loomis, the president of Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, said he did not accept Crowell’s “store-bought” apology.
“He needs to go to Dallas, help the families who lost their loved ones last week, write them a check, look them in the eyes and give a heartfelt apology,” Loomis said.
He said Crowell’s post was as “offensive as putting a picture of historical African American men being hung from a tree in the 60s” and threatened retribution. “I will pull Cleveland officers, sheriffs, state troopers out of FirstEnergy Stadium this season if he doesn’t make it right,” Loomis said.
Loomis said of Crowell: “You’re a grown-ass man, and you claim you were too emotional to know it was wrong? Think we’ll accept your apology? Kiss my ass.”
On Monday, the Browns condemned Crowell’s post.
“We have spoken to Isaiah regarding his extremely disturbing and unacceptable social media decision,” a team statement read. “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.”
On Tuesday morning, Crowell posted a video in which he claims that he will donate his first game check of the season to the Dallas Fallen Officers Foundation.
“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,” Crowell said Monday in a statement released by the Browns. “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.”
