Veterans Burn Their Bears & Packers Jerseys In Protest

AURORA, IL — A group of local sports fans and patriots burned their football jerseys Sunday to protest the way NFL owners have responded to the national anthem kneeling controversy. In a Nov. 12 article from the Aurora Beacon-News, writer Denise Crosby interviewed members of the group, veterans, whose ages range from mid-30s to late-80s, about why they chucked their Bears and Packers jerseys into a fire in Aurora’s West Side.

One of the organizers told the newspaper he sent over thirty angry letters to NFL officials “expressing disgust because owners were allowing players to use their workplace — NFL games — ‘to dis the American flag.’” The Beacon-News reported that the men will send what is left of the jerseys to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Crosby notes that she heard from several vets reached out to say they fought for people to protest, and didn’t share the same sentiment as the subjects featured in the piece.

For the veterans who met during Sunday’s game in frigid temperatures, it’s not about freedom of speech, they said, but about NFL owners allowing their employees to disrespect the flag. One of the men was Rich Gaffino, 87, of Montgomery, who fought in the Korean War. He said he absolutely supports what the group stands for. Another man who braved the cold was Peter Horwath, 69, of Aurora. Horwath’s wife told the paper he’s made a “hard choice” to switch the channel away from football this season.

Of all the letters that were sent, one response was received from the Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy. To find out what was written in that letter and what the group of veterans did with it, read the full story at the Aurora Beacon-News website.

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