On Friday, according to Journal-isms, ESPN banned employees from posting photos of themselves wearing hoodies as an act of support for Trayvon Martin, the teenager whose murder has received national media attention.

“We completely understand the strong feelings involved,” ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz originally told Journal-isms. “Our decision is in keeping with our long-standing policy for ESPN content [PDF]. There are other avenues for our people to represent issues outside of sports beyond ESPN Twitter feeds.”

On Sunday, however, ESPN reversed its ban, reports Journal-isms. ”It’s a tragic situation that has led to much thoughtful discussion throughout the company,” Krulewitz told Journal-isms via email. “As a result, in this circumstance, we have decided to allow this particular expression of human sympathy.”

Even the most comprehensive social media policies can’t account for the real world.