RI Animal Rights Activist Urges NFL Pro Bowl Sponsor Verizon to Demand Michael Vick be Replaced
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Leading Rhode Island animal rights activist Dennis Tabella — who called out the National Football League for honoring former league quarterback Michael Vick as one of its 2020 “Pro Bowl Legends Captains” — is now urging people to contact Pro Bowl sponsor Verizon.
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Neither Verizon's Providence community relations spokesperson nor the NFL's communications office would respond to request for comment.
Last week, the NFL announced that Pro Football Hall of Famers Terrell Davis, Darrell Green and Bruce Smith, and “NFL Legend” Vick will serve as 2020 Pro Bowl Legends Captains.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 2007, Vick pled guilty for his involvement in a dogfighting ring and spent 21 months in federal prison.
Now, Tabella is urging people on social media to contact Pro Bowl sponsor Verizon — to ask them to demand that Vick be replaced.
Tabella, who leads the advocacy organization “Defenders of Animals,” issued the following on social media:
Pressure on Verizon
Do not allow Michael Vick to be honored as one of the four captains at the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl. Call Verizon: CEO Hans Vestberg at 1-212-395-1000 about the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl Presented by Verizon.
Verizon Wireless provides service to 118.7 million subscribers. Do those 118.7 subscribers want Verizon to sponsor an event that honors a convicted felon and known animal abuser, Michael Vick? Verizon is risking the loss of many of the 118.7 million subscribers by sponsoring and endorsing this outrage.
Ask the CEO of Verizon to demand that the NFL replaces Michel Vick with a much more deserving player.
-- Defenders of Animals, Inc.
Latest in Rhode Island
On Monday, Tabella explained his opposition to the inclusion of Vick in the Pro Bowl.
“The NFL has a responsibility to the youth of this country by setting an example of good sportsmanship both on the field and off the field. By honoring former football players that have a history of unmentionable acts of cruelty, the NFL is conveying the wrong message and to fans and youth,” said Tabella.
“Many football players that have been involved with domestic violence are not being considered for this honor nor should a former player that is responsible for killing dogs and committing acts of animal cruelty,” said Tabella.
“Just because you spent time in prison for sick acts does not mean that you should be forgiven. Anyone that kills a child or animal should not be considered for any honor,” Tabella added, calling the types of acts "unforgivable."
“The smaller the victim, the bigger the crime,” said Tabella.
Petitions Now Have Hundreds of Thousands of Signatures
On Sunday, Tabella said he signed on the petition, “Do Not Allow Michael Vick to Be Honored at the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl” — with just over 50,000 signatures.
On Wednesday morning, the petition was up to over 135,000 signatures — and multiple petitions are now circulating with hundreds of thousands of signatures.
The petition — which was started by Joanna Lind on change.org —states:
Just saw this on Facebook and was absolutely disgusted. When is the NFL going to take any responsibility for the behavior of its current and former players? To honor a man who had zero regard for animals is unacceptable and I would like your help to make sure he is NOT honored at the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl.
Michael Vick will be one of four “legends captains” at the 2020 Pro Bowl. Does anyone else find it exhausting that the NFL constantly ignores their players' criminal behavior?!
Below is a snippet of The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption.
“And then there was one last body that stood out from the rest. It had signs of bruising on all four ankles and all along its side. Brownie had said that all the dogs that didn't die from being hanged were drowned, except one.
As that dog lay on the ground fighting for air, Quanis Phillips grabbed its front legs and Michael Vick grabbed its hind legs. They swung the dog over their head like a jump rope then slammed it to the ground. The first impact didn't kill it. So [they] slammed it again. The two men kept at it, alternating back and forth, pounding the creature against the ground, until at last, the little red dog was dead.”
Photo: This image is a work of a Marine or employee of the U.S. Marine Corps, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_vick_2017_(cropped).jpg
