In recent weeks, NBA athletes have become outspoken about a series of tragic events in the United States. Some of the game’s most prominent players, such as Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Chris Paul, have voiced their frustrations, mainly with the state of violence committed by police officers. These athletes have used their platform to call for changes to be made.
Now, the ultimate platform is being used for the same reason. Michael Jordan, currently the only black majority owner of an NBA team, has joined the fight. In a letter released to ESPN’s The Undefeated, Jordan decided to break his silence:
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.
But he is not only speaking out but also taking action. Jordan also revealed that he is donating one million dollars each to two organizations (the Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund) working to find a solution to this issue:
“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.”
Jordan’s full statement can be read here.
