NFL players, coaches speak out about police shooting of Jacob Blake

When George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25, it was a tragedy that could have easily been avoided. It was also a tripwire to a nationwide increase in protests and awareness of police brutality and racial inequity that has been shown throughout the NFL, as well. No longer did the league set its parameters at banning pre-game protests and blacklisting players who sent out messages that weren’t NFL-approved — now, the league seemed to understand that the tide was so formidable, even the league couldn’t control it.

So on Sunday, when Jacob Blake, another Black man, was shot multiple times in the back by Kenosha, Wisconsin police while his children watched from his car, the reaction from the NFL world was swift.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara called the shooting “attempted murder,” (at the time of this article’s publication, Blake is reported to have survived) and included a link to the video of the shooting, which we will warn you is not for the faint of heart.

3 officers, 1 male? And the only way to subdue 1 man was to fire 7 rounds…

Damn they shot that man 7 times…. why can’t 3 officers subdue one male? I truly need answers y’all comment on everything else……

And this from Aaron Rodgers, who has a bit of a knowledge background based on his years in the state of Wisconsin:

And Matt LaFleur, Rodgers’ head coach, had a meeting with his team’s leadership council to talk about the shooting.

Matt LaFleur on the leadership council: « You talk about a thoughtful group, I’m really proud of those guys that are on that group. You can tell it means something to these guys. Cause it’s real life. This is bigger than football. » https://t.co/kStM7ENgG6

Texans receiver Kenny Stills, who has been socially and politically active throughout his NFL career, was emotional and thoughtful when asked about it.

Stills on the WI shooting: « I think it further proves the point that we need to make a change with what is going on with our law enforcement … another unarmed black man being shot seven times in front of his children, I think there’s other ways to deescalate these situations. » pic.twitter.com/MMX3TLSDwL

Kenny Stills on shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin: ‘I saw that video this morning around 5 a.m. and I didn’t know if I would come to work today. I’ve been upset and crying. I’m an emotional person. There’s a sense of fear, what if I get pulled over, almost a sense of defeat’

Per the Kenosha News, Blake is in serious condition at a Milwaukee area hospital. From the report:

At least a half dozen witnesses said that the man had tried to break up a fight between the two women outside a home at 2805 40th St. and that police had attempted to use a Taser on the man prior to the shooting. Then, they heard at least seven gunshots ring out.

A video that has since gone viral on social media shows the man walking away from officers and going around the vehicle to get inside. While the man is entering the vehicle the video shows an officer firing a gun at the man inside the vehicle. A woman in the video is screaming as he is being shot.

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One of the most disturbing trends in political media in the age of social media is the automatic, uncontested repetition of any lie, no matter how egregious. Politician A can say the most obvious untruth, and the majority of political media will throw the direct quote up on their accounts without the slightest hint of contention, fact-checking, or blowback. It’s an easy way to get clicks, and a very bad way to cover, say, a Presidential administration.

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently sat down with former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho in Acho’s « Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man » video…

Earl Thomas is gone from the Baltimore Ravens. However, the AFC North champs have likely not heard the last from the DB.

The Ravens announced Sunday they have released Thomas two days after he was sent home for a fight with fellow DB Chuck Clark over a pass coverage at practice.

The Dallas Cowboys are reported to be one of the teams interested in the former Seattle Seahawk.

Several NFL teams have postponed activities after it COVID tests from one lab, based in New Jersey, revealed a rash of positive tests.

« Saturday’s daily COVID testing returned several positives tests from each of the clubs serviced by the same laboratory in New Jersey, » the NFL said in a Sunday morning statement. « We are working with our testing partner, BioReference, to investigate these results, while the clubs work to confirm or rule out the positive tests.  Clubs are taking immediate precautionary measures as outlined in the NFL-NFLPA’s health and safety protocols to include contact tracing, isolation of individuals and temporarily…

SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com