CFL veteran Khalif Mitchell fined for promoting Holocaust denial on Twitter
Guardian sport, Thursday 14 May 2015 23.45 BST
* CFL player fined undisclosed amount for Holocaust denial commentsMitchell posted link to video titled ‘The greatest lie ever told - The Holocaust’Two-time All-* Star previously violated CFL’s social-media policy in 2012
A Canadian Football League player has been fined an undisclosed amount for promoting Holocaust denial on Twitter, a violation of the league’s social media policy.
Khalif Mitchell, a defensive tackle with the Montreal Alouettes who previously spent two years on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, posted a link to a video titled ‘The greatest lie ever told - The Holocaust’ on 8 May.
On Thursday, Mitchell was fined by the CFLas backlash over his tweets intensified. In addition, he was fined the maximum amount allowable by the Alouettes under CFL rules.
“There is absolutely no place in our league for commentary used to divide or disparage others along the lines of sex, race, religion or sexual orientation,” CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said in a statement. “While we acknowledge that players have a right to hold and express their own opinions, in no circumstance do we condone activity or comments that are derogatory or inappropriate, putting the League’s reputation in question.”
Added team president Mark Weightman: “His postings were completely unacceptable and the Alouettes apologize to anyone who was offended by them.”
The twin sanctions came one day after Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canadareleased a statement saying it had reached out to the Alouettes over reports of “hateful content” on Mitchell’s feed.
“While understanding that we cannot judge the stream of consciousness of individuals who share offbeat Internet postings, these repugnant tweets are shameful not just to Mr Mitchell, but the entire Alouettes organization which he represents by displaying its logo and proudly donning its jersey on his Twitter account,” said Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada.
The 30-year-old Mitchell, a two-time CFL All-Star who won the Grey Cup with the BC Lions in 2011, is no stranger to Twitter controversy.
In 2012, he was fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL for posting a racial slur offensive toward people of Chinese descent while tweeting during the US presidential debate. He later apologized saying he didn’t know the term was derogatory.
Mitchell clarified his tweets on Thursday, saying he believed the Holocaust happened but only came across the video as part of his research.
“I believe the Holocaust happened,” Mitchelltold the National Post. “I believe that people died at the Holocaust. I believe that the Holocaust is an example of pure hatred, in its purest sense, on this earth, that we even know of — and that we should look into it and examine it for its authenticity, to understand how much hate could have been amassed on one people.”
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