The New York Jets asked Joe Imperatrice — the founder of Blue Lives Matter — to partner with them during the upcoming season, but they didn’t get the response they’d anticipated. And – surprisingly — this was not because NFL players have been kneeling in protest of the supposed treatment of black Americans at the hands of police.
At least not entirely. Imperatrice responded to the emailed Jets request:
Although I’d love to work with an NFL team right now I feel it is not the right time. All over the United States players feel entitled to disrespect our first responders, our military members both past and present and our flag. These players make more money in a season than some people make in a lifetime and their “Issues” are made up, exaggerated, and more times than not false.
Once again I do appreciate the offer but revenue we have could better be spent on the families of officers killed in the line of duty protecting the ignorance of these individuals rather than contributing to their paycheck.
The Jets were taken by surprise by this very strong statement, since none of their players were “kneelers.” However, Imperatrice pointed them to this image posted on Instagram in 2016:
The player who posted this — Isaiah Crowell — wrote this caption: “Mood: They give polices all types of weapons and they continuously choose to kill us…#Weak.” Crowell deleted the post and apologized. But when Crowell was signed to a three year contract in March with the Jets, Blue Lives Matter took note.
“If I am correct the JETS may have signed an individual who depicted a Grim Reaper slicing the throat of a police officer,” Imperatrice pointed out.
Good for him! The anti-police hysteria that has taken over the NFL needs to stop. Here’s to fans and organizations saying, “no more.”
Image Credit: @PaulAlanNFL/Twitter