NEW ORLEANS – Fans in New Orleans were upset with Saint football players who remained in the protest-kneeling position Sunday during a moment of silence for an officer killed in the line of duty last week.
ESPN reported that most New Orleans Saints players took a knee prior to the national anthem at their Sunday home game against the Detroit Lions. Afterward they stood for the national anthem, just as they did the previous week.
The problem was that players remained in their protest-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.
As a result, a majority of the fans reacted unfavorably. They didn’t like players on their knee during the moment of silence one bit, and they booed the players, NOLA.com added.
#NOPD mourning the loss of Officer Marcus McNeil, killed in the line of duty pic.twitter.com/TrF2OXt7qw
— Kristin Pierce WWLTV (@KPierceTV) October 13, 2017
Finally, when the players stood for the anthem, fans cheered, reported theblaze.com.
Here’s a clip:
#Saints fans boo after #Saints players kneel before national anthem, then cheer after players elect to stand throughout. pic.twitter.com/uP9xbjL1TH
— Andrew Doak (@AndrewDoak_WWL) October 15, 2017
Officer McNeil was one of four officers patrolling an area around 12:15 a.m. Friday when they “saw something that aroused their suspicion,” New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Michael Harrison said.
As a result, they exited their car to investigate. Subsequently, the gunman opened fire, striking McNeil multiple times.
“One possibly two officers returned fire,” Harrison told reporters at the time, “and our officer collapsed right there on the scene.”
McNeil later died from his gunshot wounds.
The gunman, who was also injured in the exchange of gunfire, ran into an apartment building, where he hid until he finally surrendered to a SWAT team. He is currently recovering from his wounds.
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.
This is what others had to say about the Saints kneeling:
@Saints ?KNEEL
During Tribute For Murdered Officer?@NFL Disrespects Our FLAG?? and Fallen HERO'S?#BoycottNFL
? https://t.co/i2ZWFdcimV— T ⭐⭐⭐ (@T__WWG1WGA) October 16, 2017
Police officers should start boycotting the NFL. Let them overpaid idiots pay for private security.
— Storm ⛈ ?? ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@boxersforlife) October 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/m1ke1229/status/919916060803035136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theblaze.com%2Fnews%2F2017%2F10%2F16%2Fsaints-players-stay-on-knee-during-moment-of-silence-for-fallen-police-officer-and-fans-arent-happy%2F
Real classy to kneel during the moment of silence for a fallen officer @Saints @NFL https://t.co/evA2MWdA9x
— Sandy Lyle (@ClusterFox23) October 16, 2017
Half the fans boo'd and ruined the moment of silence. Unreal man! Officer McNeil deserved better from New Orleanians!
— Brian (@Brian_NOFD) October 15, 2017
(Photo: New Orleans Police Department)