This is really powerful.
Unable to stay silent any longer in the face of multiple instances of unnecessary deaths of black men at the hands of police officers, as well as the horrific, targeted killings of officers in response, NBA superstar Michael Jordan has brought his voice to the conversation, and it is sobering.
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Jordan penned a piece for The Undefeated in which, acknowledging that, as the son of a victim of gun violence — Jordan’s father was murdered two decades ago in a crime that has never been solved — he is looking for a solution to the recent stories of police brutality and horror.
Jordan wrote:
“I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ are respected and supported.”
Very well said.
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It’s not just talk for basketball’s greatest player, either.
MJ is quite literally putting his money where his mouth is, by donating $2 million to charitable causes to help promote citizen-police relations (below):
“I am making contributions of $1 million each to two organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The Institute for Community-Police Relations’ policy and oversight work is focused on building trust and promoting best practices in community policing. My donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s oldest civil rights law organization, will support its ongoing work in support of reforms that will build trust and respect between communities and law enforcement. Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organizations make a positive difference.”
WOW!!
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Appropriately, Jordan summed up his announcement fittingly, and in a way we’d hope all people see issues as serious as these (below):
“We are privileged to live in the world’s greatest country ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ a country that has provided my family and me the greatest of opportunities. The problems we face didn’t happen overnight and they won’t be solved tomorrow, but if we all work together, we can foster greater understanding, positive change and create a more peaceful world for ourselves, our children, our families and our communities.”
Amen.
Good for MJ, for putting his money up to help support acting on what he believes is right!
[Image via DJDM/WENN.]
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