Athletes Show Their Support Against Injustice
By: Alex LaGrone
Athletes are speaking out against the decisions of the grand jury not to indict police officers for the murders of unarmed black men. First it was the St. Louis Rams players in the "hands up don't shoot" stance coming out of the tunnel at a football game.
Chicago Bulls star, Derek Rose, wore a "I can't breathe" shirt in honor of Eric Garner who was killed by police in New York after he suffocated from a choke hold.
When the Rams players chose to come out of the tunnel in the "hands up, don't shoot" stance, the St. Louis Police Officers Association made several threats if the players didn't immediately apologize to police officers. To their credit, they did not.
The Eric Garner case is a little different in that there is video evidence of everything that happened between Garner and New York police. Most people where stunned by the grand jury's decision to not indict the officers involved.
Detroit Lions running back, Reggie Bush, also made a statement before last weeks game when he took the field for early warm ups wearing a long sleeve T-shirt with 'I can't breath" written in marker on the front.
Bush said he didn't tell any of his teammates or coaches about his plans before the game. I just felt sad, embarrassed and disgusted, just hurt for his family."
It's good to see athletes and celebrities taking a stand on social issues when in the past so many have chosen to be mute. Several have made statements to the media and shared their thoughts on Twitter.
Rose and Bush's actions is a good reminder that people must continue to speak out in order to affect any change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
