Sheriff raises a stir by urging NFL boycott
Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum defended a post he placed on his office’s official Facebook page that urges people to boycott the National Football League by tuning out football telecasts and not attending games today.
Posted on Facebook Saturday afternoon, his call attracted dozens of comments with a wide range of opinions regarding NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to raise awareness of racial injustice. The protest was started last year by then-
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
As of Saturday evening, Van Blarcum’s post, which was unsigned, had drawn a wide range of comments, some in support and others expressing anger. By 6 p.m. Saturday, it had been shared more than 161 times and had drawn 261 reactions and 44 comments.
“It’s the opinion of me. It’s important for the voters to know where their sheriff stands on these sort of things,” Van Blarcum said when asked if the agency’s Facebook page was an appropriate place to post personal opinions.
“They should know where I stand, whether they like it or not,” he said.
Van Blarcum said as the head of the agency, the opinion
comes from him.
“I’m not sure everyone agrees in the agency agree with me. If not, I respect their opinions,” Van Blarcum said.
In a phone interview on Veterans Day, Van Blarcum, a Democrat, said he’s finally drawn the line on the protests that have attracted the attention of President Donald Trump and several NFL owners.
“There’s no excuse for what they’re doing,” Van Blarcum said. “As a protest, stay away from the NFL. These professional athletes should be proud. It’s only because they live in America they have the career they have. To me, it’s disgusting that they do what they do.” The Facebook post stated: “If you were ever in combat and were the last person to pull up the zipper on a body bag of your fallen comradein-arms, you would never think to be this reckless in
your attitude toward the American flag. It just would not and could not be done.
“If these fine athletes want to make a real difference, without alienating our veterans rather than taking a knee they should just not show up for work in protest!
“A national total boycott of the NFL is planned for Sunday, November 12th, Veterans Day Weekend.
“Boycott all football telecasts.
“All fans, all ticket holders, are asked to refrain from attending or viewing any NFL games on Sunday, November 12th; let the NFL play to empty stadiums.
“Pass this post along to all your friends and family. Honor our military, some of whom came home with the American flag draped over their coffins. Continue with the weekly boycott of televised games; but let’s make this a day the owners, coaches, players, and advertisers
will notice.
“They have a right to protest if they want to, but during the National Anthem is NOT the time or venue! They show an utter lack of patriotism and total disrespect for our veterans — living and dead — and everything that they put their lives on the line for.”
But Ulster County Legislator David Donaldson, DKingston, said the post was inappropriate.
“It’s inappropriate for the sheriff to be weighing in on those sorts of issues,” Donaldson said. “I think whether you support the NFL players for their ability to protest or not, that’s really not something the Sheriff’s Office should be doing. If the sheriff wants to make that comment individually, that’s different, but not as post. Someone has the right to their opinion, but when it’s coming from an office, that’s different than your personal
opinion.”
“We are always profoundly saddened when people of color, especially those in public life, are criticized for speaking out against illegal violence against them by police,” said Steve Pampinella, a regional board member of the group Citizen Action of NY. “But is utterly appalling to see the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department do so, an official government agency of Ulster County. All Americans have the right to demand equal treatment under the law, especially black athletes. With this statement, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department has demonstrated its commitment to lawlessness and their “right” to wage war against communities of color.”
In 2015, Van Blarcum attracted national attention with another post on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page urging all licensed gun owners to carry their firearms.
His call to arms came less than 24 hours after a mass shooting in San Bernadino, Calif., left 14 people dead, less than two weeks after a gunman killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo., and about three weeks after the 2015 Paris terror attacks that left 130 people dead.
In his post, Van Blarcum said if people aren’t armed during incidents like mass shootings, they are “useless.”
Within hours, his post drew more than 8,700 “likes,” had been shared by more than 12,000 people and had drawn more than 1,000 comments, most supporting his position. The post also was drew attention from some national news outlets.
Opponents later started a change.org post with the heading, “Ulster County Sheriff Van Blarcum ... Change Your Mind or Change Your Job.”