Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After a recent decision made by the Buffalo Bills to omit Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson from the team's Wall of Fame and Family Circle features at the new Highmark Stadium, a group of concerned local citizens has formulated a petition, asking the organization to reconsider its decision.
Bills president of business operations Pete Guelli released a statement at the time of the decision, saying Simpson was "not a fit" to display at the new stadium along Abbott Road in Orchard Park.
The group cites widespread sentiment that omitting Simpson from the Bills' legacy is an act of revisionism, and believes it is unfair to Simpson's children, as well as to legions of Bills fans.
"This initiative happened because people in this community love O.J. They separate the man from his personal life, they separate his public achievement from his personal life. The personal life part of it has been determined by a jury, and so whether we agree with that decision or not, it's something we have to respect. And you can't retrial him because he got double jeopardy, and the fact he's no longer here," said Betty Jean Grant, longtime community activist in Buffalo's East Side neighborhood. "So my point is if you had his name on this stadium wall in Orchard Park since 1980, you had it through all the trials and all the other controversy in his later life, why take it off now? What is the driving force of removing a name that has not been discussed for many years?"
While the petition started just a couple days ago, Grant says she's already received more than 450 signatures - both physical and online signatures. She feels this movement is only going to escalate.
"We anticipate getting thousands of petitions, we know it's a long time between now and when the Buffalo Bills open the stadium for a game, so we intend to have a stack and give to the people in charge, and let them know that you have him left out," Grant said.
Grant strongly feels the team should not have made such a decision with one of the franchise's best players without the inclusion of the Western New York community and the Bills fanbase.
"I won't say just the East Side of Buffalo, because the support for O.J. to remain on the Wall of Fame has been not only citywide, but countywide and nationwide. In fact, I got calls from Canada, so this is an international story, and they - like me - can't understand what is the driving force behind removing his name at this particular year, at this particular time," Grant noted.
O.J. Simpson was the first running back in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards rushing in one season, and was also selected as league MVP in 1973. During his nine years with the Bills, he rushed for 10,183 yards and scored 57 touchdowns.
Grant feels the right decision going forward is to include Simpson on the team's Wall of Fame and in the Family Circle at the new stadium.
"We don't have to find out what purpose, or the reason why they did it. We just want the name back. If his name is back, then why press the issue? We we got what is right, what is rightfully there," she said. "It's not just for O.J. - O.J. is dead, he's not doing it - but it's for this community and football fans. And in fact, the game of football. For 32 years, you leave it on, so what is the driving force to take it off now?"
The group's petition can be signed at Change.org.
"Give us a reason, Mr. Pegula, why he's really been taken off the Wall" - Betty Jean Grant
"Give us a reason, Mr. Pegula, why he's really been taken off the Wall" - Betty Jean Grant
