October 5, 2022 6:39pm EDT
Rams players, NFL face legal threat as tackled protester files police complaint
Bobby Wagner and Takkarist McKinley were involved in takedown during Rams-49ers game
By Scott Thompson | Fox News
The animal-rights activist who ran onto the field with a pink smoke bomb at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Monday night during a game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers has filed a police report for assault by Rams players who tackled him to end his demonstration.
The Santa Clara Police Department told Fox News Digital that a person came in on Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. PT to file a report.
A person close to Alex Taylor, the man who was taken down by Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive end Takkarist McKinley during his demonstration, also told Fox News Digital that he is considering his options, including legal action against the players involved and the NFL.
Direct Action Everywhere took responsibility for the demonstration by Taylor and Allison Fluty, who was apprehended before running on the field.
Taylor was able to avoid Levi’s Stadium security before Wagner and McKinley stepped in and put an end to the demonstration.
Both activists were wearing "RightToRescue.com" shirts and were cited for the incident. Taylor also suffered burn injuries in the incident.
"The protest sought to highlight a trial of two factory farm whistleblowers which began Monday," Direct Action Everywhere wrote in a statement claiming responsibility for the demonstration. "DxE calls it a landmark trial for animal rights, food justice and free speech, and more broadly, on the entire animal agricultural industry, which DxE says is inherently abusive and exploitative."
After the game, Wagner said he was trying to help security to apprehend Taylor.
"That's not making a play. That's just keeping it safe. You don't know what that fan got or what they're doing. You see it all the time, and we don't know what they're carrying in their pockets. It's whatever that little smoke stuff is, but that s--- could be dangerous," Wagner said via ESPN.
"One of the guys on the other side, it looked like he got hurt, and security looked like he was struggling, so I was frustrated, so I took it out on him."
The NFL declined to comment to Fox News Digital, and the Rams did not initially answer a request for comment.
This isn’t the first time Direct Action Everywhere activists have performed demonstrations at professional sports events. This one came a month after two activists were seen protesting during the Rams’ home opener against the Buffalo Bills.
more
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rams-players-nfl-face-legal-threat-as-tackled-protester-files-police-complaint
