NFL lets groups resolve on Charlie Kirk tributes for upcoming Sunday video games

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The NFL launched a press release on Friday addressing a latest tribute to Charlie Kirk forward of its most up-to-date sport, and mentioned groups can be left to make their very own selections about whether or not to comply with go well with this Sunday.

Thursday night time's sport between the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Washington Commanders featured a moment of silence in honor of Kirk earlier than kick-off.

"Final night time’s second was the league’s determination. It’s as much as the golf equipment for this Sunday’s video games," the league's assertion learn, per a number of stories.

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Charlie Kirk attends a TPUSA occasion in Arizona in 2024. (REBECCA NOBLE/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)

The assertion additional addressed the context of the tribute, evaluating it to different moments of silence following tragedies.

"There have been moments following college shootings or an assault on a home of worship such because the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. There even have been moments following main worldwide incidents resembling Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023 and weather-related incidents resembling main hurricanes and fires," the assertion continued.

"That is along with honoring these within the NFL household from tributes to lately handed gamers or personnel, or a participant resembling Damar Hamlin in 2023. The NFL additionally honored earlier than Tremendous Bowl LIV NBA star Kobe Bryant and the opposite victims of the helicopter crash (Gianna Bryant, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser, Ara Zobayan) and in addition Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Chris Doleman who handed that week."

The league made reference to sweeping modifications to subject and pre-game protocols following the loss of life of George Floyd in 2020, and moments of silence following different tragedies prior to now calendar 12 months.

TIMELINE OF CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION

"Raise Each Voice and Sing has been carried out at league occasions since 2020 following the homicide of George Floyd and the occasions of the summer season of 2020, together with final Thursday in the course of the Kickoff sport in Philadelphia. It is usually carried out earlier than the Tremendous Bowl," the assertion continued.

"This summer season earlier than the Corridor of Fame sport in Canton, the league honored the victims and people impacted by the assault at 345 Park Avenue. Throughout Week 18 video games final season, the NFL honored the victims of the Bourbon Avenue terrorist assault. Additionally, that season the NFL held a second to acknowledge these misplaced within the lethal crashes close to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia and in addition previous to the Vikings-Rams Wild Card sport that was moved from LA to Arizona as a result of wildfires."

A minimum of one NFL workforce has already made it some extent to fireplace an worker who made insensitive feedback after Kirk's assassination.

The Carolina Panthers fired Charlie Rock, a member of the workforce’s communications division, after social media posts linked to Rock appeared to indicate him questioning why folks had been unhappy that Kirk had been shot and killed.

"The views expressed by our staff are their very own and don't signify these of the Carolina Panthers," the workforce mentioned in a press release posted to social media. "We don't condone violence of any form. We're taking this matter very significantly and have accordingly addressed it with the person."

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Elsewhere in American sports activities, the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs every held a second of silence forward of latest video games to honor Kirk following the assassination on Wednesday. In the meantime, MLB has instructed all groups to, on the very least, hold all American flags at half-staff all through the weekend in honor of Kirk.

"MLB requested all the Golf equipment to comply with the path of the White Home Presidential Proclamation and fly flags at half-staff of their ballparks," an MLB spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital.

The NHL, NBA and WNBA have made no official statements addressing Kirk's assassination. Fox Information Digital has reached out to all three leagues to ask if they'd, however has not acquired a response.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital. He beforehand labored for ESPN and Enterprise Insider. Jackson has coated the Tremendous Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.