NFL Star Antonio Cromartie Puts Mike Brown's Name on His Jersey. The Response Has Been Vile...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Unfortunately DU doesn't allow one to embed tweets. You'll have to follow the links.

Antonio Cromartie, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback now playing for the Arizona Cardinals, sent out the following message and accompanying image today via Twitter on the occasion of Mike Brown's funeral in Ferguson, Missouri:




https://twitter.com/CRO31/status/504036234839085057

It's a beautiful gesture, the type which professional athletes often refrain from making, not wanting to get embroiled in political controversies or hot-button issues (for fear of their own brand or that of the team for which they play). Perhaps Cromartie didn't think that such a moving display of empathy would elicit a stream of hatred. Perhaps he did.
Either way, that's exactly what has occurred. Below are three examples (as images, since I prefer not to link to them):







http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/25/1324586/-NFL-Star-Antonio-Cromartie-Puts-Mike-Brown-s-Name-on-His-Jersey-The-Response-Has-Been-Vile

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Good thing we're living in a color-blind post-racial society

Otherwise, the comments could get *really* ugly.

[BaggersRDumb]

3. Those vicious racist punks who are responding are saying what almost ALL white cons

think but wont say out loud or wont say on Twitter.

[FarPoint]

2. Major sport figures have power....

They need to use it. I'm impressed.

[liberalmuse]

4. Who's been spawning all these racists?

I don't remember this many being around 10 years ago. I think I already know...

[KamaAina]

5. It's Obama's fault

no, really, it is. The racists have always been there, but they used to keep it under their hoods until a n****r became President.

[Kalidurga]

9. I called it early in 2008

Only I thought hate crime would be up in the general population. It did not occur to me it would be the police who would be ramping up the hate crimes.

[BrotherIvan]

12. I want to know too

Has it always been there but the internet has exposed it? As a PoC, I heard mildly racists taunts when I was growing up, but nothing like this. Perhaps I just hung out in liberal places. But these people are insane. Is it FOX news that is poisoning everyone or are they now saying what they always thought? Jesus, I didn't realize they hated us so much.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. I think the anonymity of the internet brings it out.

People hide behind a keyboard and say shit they'd be ridiculed for otherwise if they said it in public.

[liberalmuse]

14. I guess a lot of people were hiding it.

It's very disappointing. There's also the fact that today's conservatism seems to have attracted people who are proud of being stupid and vile.

[BrotherIvan]

17. If that's what goes on in their heads, they are in hell

Walking around with that much hatred must be hellish. But letting them decide policy because we are too afraid to "offend" them, that is an entirely different story.

[alp227]

21. Anonymity? Not with Twitter,

people seem to be shameless putting their names & faces next to their racism.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. I think maybe one name was real.

Mike Hunt on the other hand? That's an old joke.

[LiberalArkie]

24. It has been there, it reared its ugly head when Obama was elected. I was afraid of the backlash

against blacks. Just wait and see what happens to women if Hillary becomes president.

It is not against Obama or Hillary, it is a non-white non-male being president. To this day I really believe that Kennedy was killed because he (or they) were non-protestant. At that time in history that was a big deal. I was at high school in the 60's in south Arkansas and protestant kids did not associate with Catholic kids.

[jwirr]

29. The white racist organizations such as the rw churches, rw private schools and so on. I love the

jersey and the man holding it. Stand tall sir, they are a bunch of asses.

[gollygee]

33. It has gotten worse

either that or it's the same but people are now comfortable being open about it.

[Kalidurga]

6. I point things like this out to people (so they claim) and they still don't get it

I weep for humanity if they really think the war on black men is justified.

[Cad Bane]

7. Michael Brown could have been any black man / teen in America

That's what white people don't understand or respect.

I have great respect for athletes who are willing to stick their neck out and make a statement on these powerful issues.

It seems to be a good trend with the new generation of pro athletes.

[sunnystarr]

15. Actually they're only confirming what they believe

That it would only happen to a black child and not a white one. Racism is alive and a stain on the soul of America.

[mfcorey1]

8. Sadly, none of this surprises me anymore.

[Vattel]

10. I am glad he did that.

[pintobean]

11. The last commenter seems aptly named. /nt

[WillyT]

16. K & R !!!

[Half-Century Man]

18. One gesture that unites is answered by 3 that segregates.

I did note that the person who has been successful in his life so far is the one gesturing to unite us. The three I've never heard of (and probably would never had heard of if they hadn't been public asshats) are the ones being divisive.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. Mr. Cromartie has nothing for which to apologize

Stand tall, my man. Don't let willfully ignorant jackasses get you down.

[Triana]

20. Just tweeted him some support.

If you're on twitter .... maybe do the same?

[barbtries]

23. people suck.

this country gets meaner by the day. it makes me very sad. i guess i'll go tweet some encouraging words to him to try and take out some of the ugly.

eta: i'm so twitter-clueless that i can't figure out how to find the comments! lol but i did tweet a response hoping for justice for Mike Brown's murder. will probably get me some nasty traffic too...

[tooeyeten]

26. Nothing new

Racism and hatred has never gone away, instead in this day and age social media has put a spotlight on the cockroaches that have always been hanging around.

[barbtries]

28. true.

but i think it's important to put out the love and keep trying to overcome.

[LloydS of New London]

25. Beyond Disgusting

[Jamaal510]

27. These comments serve

as a reminder about how there are still plenty of sick racist freaks in this country. Even in the 21st century, they're still virtually everywhere, and it's just as bad online (if not worse) as they infest YouTube and many other sites that have commenting areas. It almost feels like there's no escape from it.

[ybbor]

30. But, but...

Chief Justice John Roberts said that we have moved past that, racism doesn't exist in 'Merica anymore.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

31. Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones Drew gave the 'hands up - don't shoot' gesture

after scoring a touchdown in a recent preseason game. I post on a sports blog and while this had some supporters, it also had some disgusting comments I don't care to repeat.

[maced666]

32. Cromartie is the father of 10 children from 8 different women.

Teased a lot because he once could not recite his kids name when asked.
Think he has had a wakeup call in last couple years, once famous for all the kids by different women, new sports car every few months and not being able to read in college, haven't heard anything negative in - awhile. He has settled down(?) as everyone eventually does I guess.

[madinmaryland]

34. What the FUCK is AGENT MIKE HUNT doing on DU???

He is back!!

At least he is a Raiders fan!!