article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson and Lesa Lakin
According to usatoday.com, former NBA great Michael Jordan has today not only spoken out against police violence towards people of color and the retaliatory violence that has ensued, but in an effort to help ease tensions, he has also put his money where his mouth is, donating $1 million each to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly-established Institute for Community-Police Relations.
In a statement shared via The Undefeated on Monday morning, Jordan said the following:
“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers. I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.
“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 – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.
“Over the past three decades I have seen up close the dedication of the law enforcement officers who protect me and my family. I have the greatest respect for their sacrifice and service. I also recognize that for many people of color their experiences with law enforcement have been different than mine. I have decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change.
“To support that effort, 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.
“We are privileged to live in the world’s greatest country – 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.”
NBA Legend Michael Jordan Speaks Out on Police-Related Violence, Donates $2M to Help Facilitate Change
Published in Community, News, Organizations, Philanthropy, Sports and U.S.
Reblogged this on Mugglestones and Mayhem and commented:
Good stuff. Speak out against ALL violence!
Mo
It’s the mind frame of people, people that don’t know the lord I’m talking about the police, we have laws being a police man is not a license to kill, they should be held accountable, not giving leave with pay, I feel if the killings that sparked the killing of the officers in Dallas would not have happened if those officers had been arrested and charged the ones in Baten rouge
Reblogged this on Praying for the millennials.
Good for him! I’m so happy and proud to hear he’s finally speaking up about the struggles in the black community. For so long he has stayed far away from anything related to race issues. It’s good to see he does care he just didn’t show it publicly.
Mr. Jordan’s statement, as well as his decision to support these two organizations financially, inspires and encourages me. I’d like to see a few of his athlete brethren, black and white, contribute financially to these organizations and stand publicly with him “to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.”
[…] his generous contributions of $1 million to the Institute for Community-Police Relations and $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defens…, Michael Jordan is doing a lot more sharing these […]
[…] American History and Culture; he also pledged $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Institute for Community-Police Relations to help “build trust and respect between communities and law […]