© Kirby Lee | 2016 Oct 6
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer, and the subsequent demonstrations that have swept the nation, Jed York announced over the weekend that the 49ers would donate $1 million to “local and national organizations who are creating change.”
Former 49ers safety Eric Reid is not impressed. Reid responded to York’s statement on Twitter in critical fashion.
“Nobody wants your money Jed. We want justice. We’ve always wanted justice. Y’all are truly diluted,” Reid wrote.
Nobody wants your money Jed. We want justice. We’ve always wanted justice. Y’all are truly diluted. https://t.co/wWLEpDF3nt
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) May 31, 2020
Reid went on to explain that: “I see that a lot of y’all think that it takes money to get justice. It does not. It takes money to facilitate injustice. Justice is easy, the system chooses not to give it.”
Reid’s former teammate, wide receiver Torrey Smith, expressed disagreement with Reid’s sentiment, saying that York was fully supportive of Colin Kapernick’s kneeling during the national anthem as a protest of racial injustice. Reid countered by saying in his experience that was not the case.
“You speak based on your experience and I understand that,” Reid wrote. “However, I can tell you that you never heard him say “don’t kneel” because you never knelt. He begged me not to kneel.”
I’ve had countless conversations with Jed about these issues when I was in SF. I’m grateful for his commitment to the Bay and injustices everywhere. Thanks @JedYork ! https://t.co/UNJzHLg1Nj
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) May 31, 2020
You speak based on your experience and I understand that. However, I can tell you that you never heard him say “don’t kneel” because you never knelt. He begged me not to kneel. https://t.co/UrNPW3YzOG
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) May 31, 2020
Smith concluded the discussion in diplomatic fashion, saying Reid’s take was “fair” based on his experiences.