Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from responsibility.
Mariners backup catcher, Steve Clevenger, found that out the hard way after sending tweets on Thursday, suggesting people involved in the Charlotte protests should be locked up like animals.
The Mariners have suspended Clevenger without pay for the rest of the season, leaving many Kaepernick haters and pseudo patriots angry.
Yes, people are comparing Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality, to Clevenger likening protestors and President Obama to animals. The Charlotte protests began after police shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, a black man, who according to witnesses, was reading a book in his car before the incident occurred. Police said Scott had a gun. Clevenger has since apologized for what he calls mis-wording his tweets and being a distraction to his teammates. He also added that he is not racist, being that he grew up in Baltimore. “I grew up on the streets of Baltimore, a city I love to this very day,” Clevenger said in a statement first released to Fox Sports. “I grew up in a very culturally diverse area of America and I am very proud to come from there. I am also proud that my inner circle of friends has never been defined by race but by the content of their character. Any former teammate or anyone who has met me can attest to this and I pride myself on not being a judgemental person. I just ask that the public not judge me because of an ill worded tweet. “I do believe that supporting our First Amendment rights and supporting local law enforcement are not mutually exclusive. With everything going on in the world I really just want what is best for everyone regardless of who they are. I like many Americans are frustrated by a lot of things in the world and I would like to be a part of the dialogue moving forward to make this a better world for everyone. I once again apologize to anyone who was offended today and I just ask you not judge me off of a social media posting. Thank you and God bless everyone.”
