Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Alejandro Villanueva opted to honor a decorated U.S. Army veteran who was killed in Iraq during the team’s season opener, making him the only player not to honor Antwon Rose Jr. in the team’s campaign for social justice.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers took a team vote. Obviously one person didn’t like the results so they chose to do something different,” said the mother of Rose Jr., Michelle Kenney, in a Facebook post. “I have nothing against vets and absolutely appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do for us. But this one person showed us exactly who he is and obviously he didn’t approve of how the vote turned out.”
Instead of joining his teammates, Villanueva chose to write the name of U.S. Army Sgt. Alwyn Cashe on his helmet.
Cashe died in Iraq in 2005 after rescuing six soldiers from a burning vehicle that was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions. There is a growing movement to award Cashe the nation’s highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Rose Jr., who was black, was shot in the back by police when he was 17 after he tried to flee from a traffic stop in connection to an investigation into a drive-by shooting. The officer involved in the shooting was charged with murder but eventually acquitted.
“According to video and court records, Rose participated in a drive-by shooting. That’s why the police were searching for him and two others. The victim of the drive-by says Rose was the triggerman,” sports journalist Jason Whitlock said on Twitter Wednesday.
According to video and court records, Rose participated in a drive-by shooting. That’s why the police were searching for him and two others. The victim of the drive-by says Rose was the triggerman. https://t.co/y4XdKvv7Xg
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) September 16, 2020
This isn’t the first time Villanueva, who played college football for the U.S. Military Academy, has gone against a team decision to honor social justice causes.
When Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told the team to stay in the locker room for the playing of the national anthem before a 2017 game, Villaneuva was the only player to step outside the locker room and stand for the anthem with his hand over his heart.
