On Sunday, before the Cleveland Browns took on the Cincinnati Bengals, Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns wide receiver accompanied by at least another player came out for warmups and then for pregame introductions wearing T-shirts that read, "Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford."

John Crawford was killed by police in August while holding an air gun in a Wal-Mart. Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy was shot and killed by a Cleveland Police officer while playing with a toy gun. The officer who shot Rice claims that he mistook the child's air gun for a genuine firearm.

The American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League, Hawkins wore the T-shirt coming out of the tunnel at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. Following which, Police Patrolman Union president, Jeff Follmer, sent a statement to Newsnet5 in Cleveland, reports SB Nation.

Follmer explained, "It's pretty pathetic when athletes think they know the law. They should stick to what they know best on the field. The Cleveland Police protect and serve the Browns stadium and the Browns organization owes us an apology," Follmer added, "He's an athlete. He's someone with no facts of the case whatsoever. He's disrespecting the police on a job that we had to do and make a split-second decision."

Last week, Johnson Bademosi, the Browns cornerback wore a shirt that read "I Can't Breathe" during the team warmups. Apparently, The Browns teammates are not the only one taking a stand, athletes across the country have been wearing shirts in protest of the grand jury's decision not to charge the New York police involved in the dead of Eric Garner, reports Sports Illustrated.

Just last month, when Rams players took to the field with the "Hands Up Don't Shoot" gesture, anger erupted among St. Louis police officers. Moreover, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose visited the court sporting a shirt that read, "I Can't Breathe." LeBron James and Kobe Bryant too have worn shirts as well.

The team denied the claims of the St. Louis police that the organization apologized to them shortly after the incident. The Browns didn't apologize on behalf of Hawkins and on the contrary supported him in a statement that they sent to Newsnet5 in Cleveland.

"We have great respect for the Cleveland Police Department and the work that they do to protect and serve our city. We also respect our players' rights to project their support and bring awareness to issues that are important to them if done so in a responsible manner."

So far, no players in the NFL or NBA have been punished.