Michael Jordan has finally opened up on the recent shootings of
African Americans and the targeting of police officers, writing a post
to The Undefeated in which he says: “I can no longer stay silent.”
From the post:
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.”