About an hour ago
When Michelle Kenny first started reading the Pittsburgh Steelers Center’s Murrick Poncey’s Instagram post in which she suggested that she remove her son’s name from her football helmet, she was initially upset and frustrated.
Anthony Rose Jr.’s mother Kenny said, “But when I read the bottom of it, I was a little more optimistic because I said,‘ It seems like some things are common to us. We want to work towards this one good community, and obviously he thinks policing is an issue.
“Even though we don’t share the same (point of view), I believe that together we will become a better force.”
During a phone interview Thursday evening, Kenny offered a more conciliatory tone to the Steelers players, whose previous 72-hour actions had angered him. Days ago, coach Mike Tomall asked Kenny to call that the full roster of players voted to wear a helmet throughout the season with his son’s name on the back.
ICYMI: “The Pittsburgh Stilters voted for the team. Naturally, one person didn’t like the result, so they chose to do something different, “Michelle Kenny, mother of Antoine Rose Jr., wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. https://t.co/h5KrEQQJ1O
– TribLIVE.com (TribLIVE) September 16, 2020
But then, to face and former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva The rose didn’t even have a name Army Sergeant Alvin Kasheni on his helmet during Monday’s season opener. The next day, Tomlyn said Villanueva had discussed the change with him.
By Wednesday, P line linebacker Vince Williams Said in public There was no vote and he didn’t even know whose name would be on his helmet. And then came Thursday’s Instagram post in which Paunsi demanded that law enforcement “clarify” that he was “unaware of the whole story surrounding Rose’s death” and that “I will make my own decision about who will wear the helmet behind me.”
“I was personally offended,” Kenny said, “and (not) because he was a supporter of law enforcement.” It was because he assumed I wasn’t.
“I always say that I am not a lawyer to defame the police. I’m really advocating for law enforcement – I want to change the way we conduct policing in the state of Pennsylvania. “
Paunsi is a strong supporter of police-related reasons. Rose died in the 17th year after being shot three times in the back by post-Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosefeld. Paunsi wrote that he was given “limited information” about the encounter between Rosefeld – who was acquitted last year – and two others.
The Steelers left details of the case when the team honored Rose.
Rose was a passenger in the vehicle that was pulled over as he was involved in a drive-by shooting a few minutes ago in North Braddock. Another teenager, Zaijuan Hester, later pleaded guilty to being a shooter. Surveillance video from the drive-by shooting showed Hester firing shots from the back seat of the Gold Chevy Cruise.
The back of the helmet worn by the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2020 season will be named after Anton Rose Jr. Https: //t.co/aZa8MmgtWv
– TribLIVE.com (TribLIVE) September 14, 2020
Neither Paunsi nor Villanueva have spoken to the media this week.
“Mostly, I was wondering why none of these individuals tried to talk to me or ask me about Anton except for what the negative press (and) negative people say,” Kenny said.
“They didn’t know (Rose).”
Kenny said none of the Steelers have spoken to him since Tomlin had a call before the season began, except on the side of a community relations representative.
Kenny also made it clear that she had been told firmly that the team’s players had voted to honor her son and him. Each The player will wear his name on their helmets Absolute Season.
He said, “I was in disbelief, so I asked the question three times to make sure I was hearing it properly.”
Kenny insisted that “he would be 100% okay with me” if Villanueva had asked her if she could honor Kashe, the black recipient of the Silver Star, who died in a bomb blast after trying to rescue fellow soldiers while on duty. Iraq.
“And let me be very clear: even personal skin color would not matter to me,” Kenny said. “I believe in freedom of choice, and he can represent anyone he wants. That was not what he did; That’s how he did it.
“Personally, I don’t think the public (or) media respects veterans or (active military) them. … It was never a competition for me or I got annoyed with it for choosing to change Anton’s name. ”
# Stylers Alejandro Villanueva is being criticized and praised for tapping the name Alvin Cash on the back of his helmet for Monday night’s game. https://t.co/L5MpEblpZX
– TribLIVE.com (TribLIVE) September 16, 2020
Kenny has dedicated his life to advocating policing reforms, and while Tomley said the Steelers are committed to helping him, “the name of the (rose) helmet was just a bonus.”
“Steelers is an entity that has the financial resources and the support to move the movement forward,” Kenney said. “They represent the city of Pittsburgh and I fight in the state of Pennsylvania. I think that’s a perfect match. I don’t know how it went towards negativity. “
Still, with time for reflection, Kenny tries to use the choices by Pooncensi and Villanueva as the main point. She said she would welcome a conversation with either of them because she doesn’t see the helmet situation as a disagreement about the issues she cares about.
“I’m not trying to criticize the police, I don’t think all the police are bad, I’m not anti-police,” Kenny said. “I want them to have a little bit of responsibility and to be better at policing the communities they serve. Just. It’s really just that simple. “
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamskitribliv.com or via Twitter .
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