The Green Bay Packers are planning to lock arms during the national anthem at Thursday night's home game against the Chicago Bears, and they've asked fans to join them in the display of unity. Let's just say that's not going over well with some. The Green Bay Press-Gazette talks to some irked fans and rounds up the angry social media reactions of others, many of whom are threatening to return shares in the team or season tickets. FOX6 reports that there will be more police officers present on the field than is typical, just in case fans start throwing things at players or try to rush the field. There are also, of course, those who still support the team: "Any #packers fans boycotting? If so please inbox. I'll gladly take those tickets off your hands. I'll walk to lambeau to see the boys play," posted one Twitter user.
But then there are those like Packers shareholder and Air Force veteran Steven Tiefenthaler, who says his "allegiance to our American flag and to our national anthem will always stand far above any loyalty to the NFL." (As CNN notes, the team is the NFL's only publicly owned franchise; more than 360,000 fans own stakes.) "We've had a steady stream of feedback beginning Monday morning [after many Packers locked arms during the anthem on Sunday] and it continued into Wednesday. We've heard on both sides of the matter," says a team rep. Shareholders who return shares won't get a refund. In a statement, the Packers said the moment of unity "will represent a coming together of players who want the same things that all of us do—freedom, equality, tolerance, understanding, and justice for those who have been unjustly treated, discriminated against, or otherwise treated unfairly," per Fox Sports. (More Green Bay Packers stories.)
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