NFL

St Louis Rams players raise hands in apparent Ferguson gesture

  • ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’ has become slogan of Michael Brown shooting protests
  • Five players in apparent show of solidarity before Oakland Raiders game
St Louis Rams Michael Brown gesture
St Louis Rams, left to right, wide receiver Stedman Bailey, wide receiver Tavon Austin, tight end Jared Cook, wide receiver Chris Givens and wide receiver Kenny Britt put their hands up. Photograph: Jeff Curry/USA Today

Associated Press in St Louis

Five St Louis Rams players stood with their arms raised in an apparent show of solidarity for Ferguson protesters before trotting on to the field for pre-game introductions.

A Rams spokesman said on Sunday the team was not aware the gesture had been planned before the game against the Oakland Raiders.

Wide receivers Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt came out together first, with the move obscured by a smoke machine in the upper reaches of the Edward Jones Dome. Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook and Chris Givens then came out and stood together with arms raised.

Tavon Austin Michael Brown gesture
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Wide receiver Tavon Austin puts his hands up. Photograph: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports

Protesters have adopted the pose and the slogan “Hands up, don’t shoot” in reference to witness accounts that said Brown, 18, sought to surrender before he was shot dead by police officer Darren Wilson in August. Brown was unarmed at the time.

There have been riots, looting and buildings burned in Ferguson since a grand jury declined on Monday to indict Wilson. On Saturday night, Wilson resigned from the Ferguson police.

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