Several of the NFL’s biggest stars are not happy with the league’s handling of peaceful protests and reaction to the killing of George Floyd.
So — in a single, powerful video — they came together to ask the NFL some very pointed questions. Specifically, will it take one of them dying from police brutality for the league to start listening to its players?
NFL stars ask league to condemn racism, admit past silencing of players
On Thursday, several NFL stars simultaneously released the same video in which dozens of black players lend their voice.
Invoking the names of Floyd and 12 other African-Americans killed by police or other figures, the players requested the league admit wrongdoing in silencing past player protests and condemn racism and systematic oppression.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="First posted by Saquon Barkley, the video also features Tyrann Mathieu, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Mahomes, Ezekiel Elliott, Chase Young, Deshaun Watson and many others.” data-reactid=”21″>First posted by Saquon Barkley, the video also features Tyrann Mathieu, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Mahomes, Ezekiel Elliott, Chase Young, Deshaun Watson and many others.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content=" ” data-reactid=”22″>
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) June 5, 2020
A transcript of the video:
It’s been 10 days since George Floyd was brutally murdered. How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players? What will it take? For one of us to be murdered by police brutality? What if I was George Floyd?
I am George Floyd. I am Breonna Taylor. I am Ahmaud Arbery. I am Eric Garner. I am Laquan McDonald. I am Tamir Rice. I am Trayvon Martin. I am Walter Scott. I am Michael Brown Jr. I am Samuel DuBose. I am Frank Smart. I am Phillip White. I am Jordan Baker.
We will not be silenced. We assert our right to peacefully protest. It shouldn’t take this long to admit. So, on behalf of the National Football League, this is what we, the players, would like to hear you state: We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting. We, the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter.
The video comes after what many feel is a lackluster reaction from the league to the death of Floyd in police custody.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Several teams have dragged their feet on releasing any sort of statement in reaction Floyd’s death and few of the ones that have spoken up have pledged any sort of real action.” data-reactid=”28″>Several teams have dragged their feet on releasing any sort of statement in reaction Floyd’s death and few of the ones that have spoken up have pledged any sort of real action.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s own statement released Saturday was roundly criticized as lip service, especially given the hypocrisy of such words after Colin Kaepernick was frozen out of the league. Goodell’s statement didn’t mention the words “racism,” “police” or “Black Lives Matter,” and it didn’t acknowledge the past silencing of player protests against racial inequality.” data-reactid=”29″>NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s own statement released Saturday was roundly criticized as lip service, especially given the hypocrisy of such words after Colin Kaepernick was frozen out of the league. Goodell’s statement didn’t mention the words “racism,” “police” or “Black Lives Matter,” and it didn’t acknowledge the past silencing of player protests against racial inequality.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="A low point came on Wednesday, when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees repeated his past criticism of such protests during the national anthem as disrespectful to the American flag and military, despite the protest originating from the advice of an ex-Green Beret. Brees would later apologize after an enormous backlash that included several of his own teammates.” data-reactid=”30″>A low point came on Wednesday, when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees repeated his past criticism of such protests during the national anthem as disrespectful to the American flag and military, despite the protest originating from the advice of an ex-Green Beret. Brees would later apologize after an enormous backlash that included several of his own teammates.
Floyd’s death has put racial inequality at center stage in American politics, and the NFL now has many of its most high-profile players publicly demanding the league take stronger action. We’ll see if any change comes from it.
<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="More from Yahoo Sports:” data-reactid=”43″>More from Yahoo Sports:
Source link
