Mike Pence forgot he walked out on peaceful NFL protest in 2017, but no one else did
By Josh Hill
Mike Pence urging peaceful protest backfired on him quicker than left that Colts game in 2017.
Another instance of police brutality resulting in the death of an unarmed black man has sparked protests around the country. Minneapolis, the city in which George Floyd was held down by the neck until he lost consciousness and later died, was engulfed by the frustrations of a community tired of being legally murdered.
The city burned as a result, and the discourse was just as destructive.
While President Donald Trump was the runaway winner for Most Dangerous Tweet, Vice President Mike Pence quietly won the Occam’s Razor Award for his tweet about peaceful protests being something the United States honors and respects.
We believe in law and order in this Country. We condemn violence against property or persons. We will always stand for the right of Americans to peacefully protest and let their voices be heard.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) May 29, 2020
Back in 2017 NFL players, inspired by Colin Kaepernick, began kneeling during the national anthem to peacefully bring attention to police brutality and its disproportional effect on the black community. At the height of the White House’s war on this protest, Pence was accused of showing up to an Indianapolis Colts game with the sole intention of being seen walking out as soon as players took a knee during the national anthem.
The simplest reason is probably the right one.
It’s what happens when people with half baked ideas laced in something obvious yet unsaid eventually run out of runway.
NFL and NBA stars join everyone else in calling Mike Pence out
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was among the first professional sports figures to roll his eyes at Pence’s transparent statement.
You’ve gotta be kidding me. How do you have the gall to say this? https://t.co/wfJowOaDRe
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) May 30, 2020
Eric Reid, who played with Colin Kaepernick when the peaceful protests during the anthem began, also called out Pence.
You were singing a different tune when you rejected our peaceful protest at the 49’ers vs Colts game, wasting tax payers’ money to stage your publicity stunt. https://t.co/iGSpjFSnZD
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) May 30, 2020
Celebrities, fans, writers — basically everyone — were also quick to call Pence on his hypocrisy.
One time at a football game a man quietly took a knee to protest police violence and you threw a premeditated hissy fit and stormed out of the game. It cost American taxpayers more than $300,000, for you to do this. Shut up. https://t.co/l7Q7u8PdvP
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) May 29, 2020
the VP literally used taxpayer $ for political theater, walking out of an NFL protest of **the exact same crisis** he laments here. This Tweet shouldn’t be deleted but it should get a laugh track. https://t.co/E8iVDd3enE
— Jason Gay (@jasongay) May 29, 2020
A reminder: This is the same Mike Pence who left a Colts game in 2017 because the players were kneeling PEACEFULLY during the national anthem, which cost taxpayers $325,000. I seent it. https://t.co/Z4yQxK4UIf
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 29, 2020
Pence literally walked out of a Colts game during a peaceful protest. https://t.co/8jbASKhCQJ
— Alex Raskin (@RaskinDailyMail) May 29, 2020
Pence may have forgotten that he walked out on a peaceful protest, therefore disrespecting it and contradicting his own statement. No one else did, and it’s a reminder that the internet never forgets.