Former Washington Football Team cheerleaders and employees wanted their voices to be heard, so they staged a protest outside the team’s stadium Monday to demand the release of a report on the NFL’s investigation of the team’s workplace misconduct.
The “#ReleaseTheReport” protest went down last night as the Football Team got ready to battle the Seattle Seahawks.
“We are once again coming together to demand the transparency and accountability that we, those who experienced sexual harassment at the WFT, and the public, reasonably expect from a complete investigation that included more than 120 people,” Former Washington Football Team employees Melanie Coburn and Megan Imbert wrote in a joint statement.
“This is bigger than the WFT and the NFL, and it’s time the most prominent workplace in the country is held accountable. That will be the only way for real progress to be achieved,” Coburn told the sports media outlet. “We look forward to speaking with the fans Monday evening at FedExField! Lookout for us in the Redzone lot from 5pm to kickoff!”
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Imbert told reporters outside the stadium that she believes momentum is building as people gain the courage to come forward about their experiences with the team.
“This is what needs to happen in order for society to evolve. I’m not calling for cancel culture. I’m calling for the culture to evolve.”
The protest took place in the Redzone parking area prior to kickoff with the women wearing matching burgundy sweatshirts that said “Release the Report.”
“I am scared for my physical safety,” Imbert said in response to a reporter asking what she feared. “Dan Snyder has had private investigators involved here. It is terrifying when you are up against billions of dollars.”
The emails involving the team that were unearthed by the NFL cost Jon Gruden his job, as they showed racist, misogynistic and homophobic language.
Some of the emails allegedly included topless photos of women wearing only bikini bottoms. Following his resignation, Gruden has fired back with a lawsuit against the NFL, blaming Commissioner Roger Goodell for the leaks and alleging that he was the victim of a “soviet-style character assassination” by the league to distract from its “mishandling” of the WFT investigation.
Coburn and others started a petition on Change.Org demanding the league make its findings public.
The petition says, “The NFL must do the right thing and make the sexual misconduct investigation of the WFT public AND hold Dan Snyder accountable for the history of serial sexual harassment within his organization.”
“The NFL along with the WFT employees, fans, alumni, and cheerleaders should stand up and disallow him from being a part of this historic franchise any longer. Ticket sales are at an all-time low and the name change controversy continues. It’s time to re-engage the fan base and create a winning game-day experience for everyone. This “rebranding” must include feedback and input from the women who have been on the sidelines supporting this team for more than a half-century.”
“In addition, we should all be fighting for the immediate reinstatement of the WFT Cheerleaders (The First Ladies of Football). After a recent legal settlement (stemming from lewd videos that were made for front office staff), the almost 60 year long cheerleading program was canceled. These women aren’t just on the literal sidelines. They support local charities, and visit veterans and sick children in local hospitals. They create incredible value through youth outreach programs and put their lives at risk on overseas military tours to engage with and honor our servicemen and women. This cannot and must not stand.”
