Saskatchewan Roughriders face criticism after adding Khalif Mitchell to practice roster
Anti-semitic social media posts in 2015 led to fine, apology
Defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell has been added to the practice roster of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
In 2015, Mitchell, then with the Montreal Alouettes, was caught up in a controversy involving social media.
He ended up apologizing for inappropriate posts on Twitter, including a link to a Holocaust denial video.
The apology was made in a joint statement by the CFL Players' Association and B'nai Brith Canada.
"I wholeheartedly apologize to all those who I know I let down by posting those videos, especially those who look up to me as a professional athlete," Mitchell said at the time. "I fell into a trap by watching that video and I hope others can learn from my very public mistake.
"This is a learning moment for me."
Mitchell agreed to work with B'nai Brith, a Jewish human rights organization, to "educate myself about this and other human rights matters."
On Wednesday, following his first practice with the Roughriders, Mitchell was offering no apologies, describing himself as someone who has been around the good and the bad at the maximum extremes.
"I'm comfortable being myself," Mitchell said. "I'm an outspoken guy. But every team I've been around, I love my teammates to death. I guess if you want to stack up all of it and add it all up then at the end of the day I am who I am."
The Riders' front office was aware of who they were signing too.
"We've spoken on it," head coach Chris Jones said. "He's a couple years older. I'm hoping Khalif knows where he's at in his life."
Jones wouldn't rule out the possibility of Mitchell being in the lineup on Sunday when the Riders host the Bombers.
"You can tell he's got a ways to go, shape wise, he's looking good in one-on-one's, so we'll just have to see."
News of Khalif Mitchell joining the Roughriders was met with some criticism by people on social media platforms, like Twitter.
Signing John Chick would have been too much money. <br>+$75,000 in fines and signing assclown Khalif Mitchell could cost team WAY more<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Image?src=hash">#Image</a>
—@fakeGAINERKhalif Mitchell? Sorry Chris Jones, you've lost me. <a href="https://twitter.com/sskroughriders">@sskroughriders</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/notMyRiders?src=hash">#notMyRiders</a>
—@jaredfrancaisI'd rather continue to watch this excruciating Rider season of newbies and injuries (and endless losses) than cheer for Khalif Mitchell.
—@saskriderschickAlso, Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs [CIJA], issued a statement about Mitchell's engagement on Twitter.
"The Montreal Alouettes and the Canadian Football League did the right thing in 2015 by denouncing Mitchell's hateful tweets and levying a fine against him for his troubling behaviour," the statement said.
According to the CIJA, Mitchell used his Twitter account in December to share another anti-Jewish message.
"Clearly, Mitchell has not learned from his past mistakes," the CIJA said. "We have engaged with the CFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders and they have assured us they are investigating."