PLANTATION, FLA. (WSVN) - After several Miami Dolphins players kneeled during the national anthem at a game against the Seattle Seahawks, the president of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association is requesting that BSO stop providing security detail for the team.
BSO Deputies Association president Jeffrey Bell was not happy to see four Miami Dolphins player kneel during the national anthem at the Sept. 11 game against the Seattle Seahawks. “The national anthem is a show of respect. It’s not too much to ask an individual to remain standing for two minutes,” Bell said. “I’m torn personally. I do recognize the importance of freedom of speech in the constitutional rights that everybody enjoys.”
Bell said he was disappointed at the actions of the players, and as a result, the president of the union that represents more than 1,300 BSO deputies and sergeants, has asked BSO to stop providing security detail for the players.
In a memo to BSO higher-ups, Bell wrote, “In certain professions, an individual’s freedom of speech must take a back seat to the organization or government entity that they choose to represent.”
The memo goes on to read, “I cannot fathom why the Miami Dolphin Organization and the NFL would allow the blatant disrespect of the American flag and what it stands for during the national anthem.”
“It is absolutely a privilege to be one of the selected few that get put up on a pedestal to play on TV and make millions of dollars for simply playing a game,” Bell said.
Demonstrations like those of the Dolphins players began after San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem in protest against racism in the country.
“It’s easy for you to just sit here and say, ‘Just shut up you stupid [expletive],’ rather than saying, ‘Why do you feel like that? And if you do feel like that, tell me more about it,” said Dolphins player Arian Foster.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross supports his players. “These guys are really making a conversation on something that’s a really important topic in this country, and I’m 100 percent supportive of them,” he said.
However, Bell said he and many of his deputies are not supportive of the way the Dolphins players chose to protest. “I respect their right, however, I think there’s a better venue they can express it on instead of on a football field where it’s a privilege to play there,” he said.
Bell expects to hear back from BSO next week.
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