The president of the Cleveland Warriors, the local amateur football team made up of police officers, correction officers and first responders, appears to have resigned.
That’s what team president and coach Bill Sofranko wrote Randy Knight, an ex-player protesting Timothy Loehmann’s addition to the team, the former Cleveland police officer who killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014.
Sofranko’s text read: “You win, I am now stepping down for the benefit of the team. Call your people. “
He added that Loehmann has also left the team.
Sofranko didn’t respond to requests for comment, but Knight said he was told many times that Loehmann was leaving the team.
“I don’t think so,” Knight told ideastream after receiving Sofranko’s text. “I think this whole organization needs to be disbanded. There doesn’t have to be a Cleveland Warriors anymore. “
The public controversy surrounding Loehmann’s presence began on the last weekend of January when players and activists showed up at the team’s training session on Saturday morning in North Royalton.
“I just want you to know the practice is over,” said Knight from the sidelines. “Because they are harboring a murderer.”
Stories in local media and the New York Times have since highlighted the rebellion among black players over Loehmann’s presence.
Players say the team leader hid Loehmann’s identity for at least a year.
“That’s not a recognizable face, you know?” Said Knight. “Everyone else is called by his last name. Everyone else – Knight, Sullivan – but when it comes to Timothy, they called him Tim or Timmy. “
But by the end of the 2019 season the secret was out. Knight said six players were eventually kicked off the team after protesting Loehmann’s presence.
Knight said he has received threats since starting his campaign against the team’s leadership.
