Several athletes have stepped forward on social media to share their thoughts on social injustice, the most recent of which has prompted protests and even violence across the country following the heinous way George Floyd recently lost his life.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is the latest to voice his opinion on the matter and did so via Twitter on Sunday.
Below are a series of tweets posted by Sherman, which are definitely worth a read.
When will the response be justice? Racism has been around forever and too many excuses have been made for it. If you are sitting by watching it and judging the reaction you are part of the problem with what is going on because you allow yourself to overlook the cause.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 31, 2020
Unarmed and Black is not a crime and should not be treated as such. I will not argue or engage in discussion with individuals who cannot understand that basic premise. Basic fairness and justice is all that has been asked for and it has not be given
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 31, 2020
It's curious the way I'm treated in public when I have a mask on and when I don't. When I wear a mask I feel the tension that I have felt since i was a child. I can feel the looks I get of ppl who assume I'm a threat. But when the mask comes off and suddenly I'm not a threat
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 31, 2020
My profession nor my education change the fact that I'm a black man in America and to that end I will continue to fight for equality for the ppl that are treated unjust in the country. And if that offends you or makes you uncomfortable then maybe we are starting to make progress
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) May 31, 2020
49ers CEO Jed York on Saturday pledged $1 million to local and national organizations who are "creating change."
"Before we are able to realize impactful change," wrote York via a statement, "we must first have the courage and compassion as human beings to come together and acknowledge the problem: black men, women, children and other oppressed minorities continue to be systemically discriminated against."
While the overall reaction to York's statement and pledge has been overwhelmingly positive, including praise from former 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith, former Niners safety Eric Reid was critical of the announcement, pointing to his past experience with the team CEO as the reasoning.
The 49ers in 2016 donated $1 million to two organizations — the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the San Francisco Foundation — in an effort to "address various social inequities."