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Lt. Gov. Newsom And Wife Jennifer Denounce 49ers' Decision To Play McDonald

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, issued a statement Sunday, denouncing the San Francisco 49ers' decision to continue to play defensive end Ray McDonald during an investigation into felony domestic violence charges.

The statement, released to the press by Newsom's communications director, Andrea Koskey reads:

"The City and County of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area has long stood staunchly on the forefront of domestic violence awareness and prevention. That's why the 49ers' continued insistence on playing Ray McDonald during his ongoing criminal investigation is a painful affront to every victim of domestic violence and sends a troubling message to our community and especially our children that 'zero tolerance' are empty words, not real actions. In light of the increased public awareness of this issue in the wake of the horrific Ray Rice assault and today's decision by the Carolina Panthers to deactivate Greg Hardy, we strongly urge the 49er organization we grew up revering to do the right thing -- right now -- and bench Ray McDonald, pending the outcome of his felony domestic violence investigation by San Jose law enforcement."

-- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom, filmmaker, and the founder and CEO of The Representation Project, joint statement on the 49ers decision to continue to play Ray McDonald

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