Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The death of George Floyd and angry aftermath have rocked the country into speech, into action, into fury. And not just the most vulnerable and affected groups in cases of police brutality.
“We have to decide, as white people, that enough is enough,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said on Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast.
“I’m impressed with the white QBs speaking up because those are voices that carry different weight than the black voices for some people,” 49ers defensive back Richard Sherman told Sports Illustrated. “Which means the people who refuse to listen to a black athlete’s perspective will hear the same thing said from a white athlete, but receive the message much differently. So it’s awesome that more people are speaking out, because in sports, you really have a love and appreciation for your fellow man, regardless of race.”
The protests have felt and looked different this time around — this time around because there has been a familiar cycle of black people being abused by police and then waves of anger that have followed. More white people have spoken up after video of Derek Chauvin’s knee of Floyd’s neck went viral.
Derek Carr was “disgusted, mad, and broken-hearted.”
Carson Wentz said “institutional racism in this country breaks my heart and needs to stop. Can’t even fathom what the black community has to endure on a daily basis.”
“The black community needs our help,” Joe Burrow wrote. “They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen, and speak. This isn’t politics. This is human rights.”
“These racist acts are inexcusable and horrific,” was included in Andy Dalton’s statement. “We have to fight against racism and not be naive to the injustice that is happening.”
White people speaking out lends a bigger chance that white people listen as well. Listening and understanding the pain of others that can’t be directly felt is a big part of moving forward.
“I’m not going to speak for anyone else, but I see my personal obligation as one to speak up where I see injustice or lack of equality happening,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler told KNBR last week. “People who work in professional sports are fortunate to have a platform, and because of that, I believe I have a duty to use that platform for those that don’t. I won’t be faced with a situation where my last words are ‘I can’t breathe’ like George Floyd’s were, and no one else should be put in that position either. If I can do the smallest thing about that with my voice because of my race or in spite of it, I believe I should.”