NFL
By: Zachary Draves
“My grandfather had to deal with the cops
My great-grandfather dealt with the cops
My great grandfather had to deal with the cops
And then my great, great, great, great, when it’s gonna stop?!”
-Sound of Da Police by KRS-One (1993)
Once again we bear witness to the devaluing of black life in real time at the hands of those who are sworn to protect and serve. Once again we are having to wrestle with wanting to not overly fetishize footage of black bodies being killed in the street, which ultimately re-traumatizes a family that is grieving and a community that has historically been inflicted with this kind of pain. At the same time, genuinely pushing for the world to see the real world consequences of state violence so that accountability is leveled and long overdue systemic change is implemented.
But yet here we are again even in the midst of a supposed racial reckoning.
This time the focus is on Memphis, Tennessee, the same city where fifty five years ago this April 4, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while fighting against social injustice.
At approximately 8:24pm on the night of January 7, 29 year old Tyre Nichols, a young black man who worked at Fedex while also pursuing a career in photography and raising a four year old son, was viciously beaten at the hands of five Memphis police officers during a traffic stop.
(Courtesy: Deandre Nichols via Reuters)
Nichols was pulled over for alleged reckless driving while on his way home. The officers subsequently pulled him out of his vehicle, pepper sprayed, and tased him. As he tried to make a getaway, one of the officers was quoted as saying “I hope they stomp his ass”. Once he was caught, they punched and kicked him in his head as well as striking him with a baton. All the while, Nichols was harrowingly calling out for his mother saying “Mom! Mom!”
Three days later, Nichols was hospitalized and was in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries which was later determined to be the result of “extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating”.
After the city released the body cam footage on Friday, the five officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were fired and charged with two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression and one count of aggravated assault. The Memphis Police Department also disbanded their special Scorpion Unit which the officers worked in.
As activists hit the street and lawmakers scramble on how to respond after the release of the video this past week, the sense of urgency to do something about how policing is done in this country has by no means diminished post-George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
It may seem as back to business as usual for some if not many after the historic protests in 2020, but that is not the case for those invested in pursuing change and that includes athletes.
Immediately after the release of the video, the NBA, WNBA, and their players unions each put out statements. As did the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2023
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 28, 2023
On Friday, the Grizzlies were playing the Timberwolves in Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, and a moment of silence was given to Nichols prior to the start of the game.
(Courtesy: Youtube)
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins movingly told Bally Sports Southeast that he broke out in tears after he saw Nichols’ family being interviewed on CNN. He then said “the senseless loss of life for Tyre Nichols really hit us hard and it’s been tough being on the road, not being home. I wish I could extend my arms through this camera right now.”
NBA players such as Lebron James, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, and Karl Anthony Towns, who have spoken out on social justice at various times, took to Twitter to offer their thoughts.
WE ARE OUR OWN WORSE ENEMY!!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 28, 2023
Change is needed at all levels and we all need to do our part. We can’t lose our humanity as a society.
To the Nichols’ family and Memphis community, my heart is with you tonight.
— Chris Paul (@CP3) January 28, 2023
I’ve been at a loss for words over the death of Tyre Nichols. I’m sending love to his family and to the city of Memphis, and I share in your pain over this tragic loss. Justice for Tyre. pic.twitter.com/KyRIXXoc6E
— Mike Conley (@mconley11) January 28, 2023
The Tyre Nichols video is just incomprehensible. Wish we could give young kids hope that the world is becoming a better place but it’s hard to hide the evidence. We gotta do better, if not for us…at least for them. I am sick to my stomach thinking about this
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) January 29, 2023
The NFL put out their own statement on Sunday during the AFC and NFC championship games.
— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2023
Reflecting on the summer of 2020, when athletes were more visible in their activism (attending marches, boycotting games, forming social justice initiatives, and actively promoting civic engagement) than at any point in recent memory, some may look back and see that as a fleeting moment. A one time thing that was appropriate considering the circumstances during a global pandemic when ordinary life was completely uprooted and athletes were not on their usual busy schedules.
But activism comes in many forms.
It is not just obvious examples of participating in rallies and protests while carrying signs and chanting clarion calls such as “No Justice No Peace”. Sometimes it is tweeting your thoughts to millions of your followers, contributing money to organizations, forming alliances with organizations, writing letters to the editor, or meeting with lawmakers and policy experts.
All of which are on a much lower scale but still impactful and approaches that athletes have engaged in on a more regular basis.
The most recent example came when the Golden State Warriors attended the White House to celebrate winning their 7th NBA championship last year. Not only did they take a picture with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, head coach Steve Kerr, players Klay Thompson and Moses Moody, and James Cadogan, Executive Director of the NBA’s Social Justice Coalition met with White House advisors to discuss the issue of gun violence.
As the calls for justice for Tyre Nichols and his family continue to get louder, expect the voices of athletes to remain just as loud.
They may not be out in the streets, but they are still on the frontlines.
