Former WFT Cheerleaders, Employees Protest Misconduct in Franchise

Sports

By Kelton Brooks Published: December 1, 2021

Former WFT Cheerleaders, Employees Protest Misconduct in Franchise

Washington Football Team defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93), defensive tackle Matthew Ioannidis (98) and defensive end James Smith-Williams (96) line up for a play during the second half of an NFL football game between the Washington Football Team and the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, in Landover, Md. Washington won 17-15. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In Summary

The former workers of the Washington Football Team protested outside the stadium to shed light on rampant misconduct in the organization.

Former Washington Football Team cheerleaders and several other employees protested outside the team’s stadium on Monday, demanding they release findings from the NFL’s investigation of companywide misconduct.

The protest, in the form of #ReleaseTheReport, occurred before the Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Washington won 17-15 against the Russell Wilson-led 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.

There will be a protest tonight outside FedEx Field before the WFT/Seattle game.

Former team employees want the findings to be released of the NFL investigation into the Washington Football Team’s workplace culture. pic.twitter.com/RUXymSMc2R
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) November 29, 2021

Coburn and Imbert led the charge with many others tagging along in support of the protest in the parking lot.

“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 said. “We look forward to speaking with the fans Monday evening at FedExField! Lookout for us in the Redzone lot from 5pm to kickoff!”

The Washington Football team has been mired in controversy all season.

In 2011, emails between Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen, who was then the chairman of the Washington Football Team, referred to NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, who is Black, as “Dumboris Smith” whose “lips are the size of Michelin tires.”

In November, Gruden resigned as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders because an investigation uncovered by the New York Times revealed that he had been using misogynistic and homophobic language in emails for years.

Smith tweeted, “The email from Jon Gruden – and some of the reaction to it – confirms that the fight against racism, racist tropes and intolerance is not over. This is not about an email as much as it is about a pervasive belief by some that people who look like me can be treated as less.”

Washington has not released a statement and the NFL previously said they do not plan to release reports of their investigation.