'Enough Is Enough' | Ravens Say The Team Will Use Platform To 'Drive Change Now'
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Baltimore Ravens on Thursday released a statement demanding the arrests of the officers accused of killing Breonna Taylor and shooting Jacob Blake, and calling on Senator Mitch McConnell bring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the Senate floor for vote.
The Ravens released the following statement, saying, in part:
"With yet another example of racial discrimination with the shooting of Jacob Blake, and the unlawful abuse of peaceful protesters, we MUST unify as a society. It is imperative that all people – regardless of race, religion, creed or belief – come together to say, 'Enough is enough!'
This is bigger than sports. Racism is embedded in the fabric of our nation's foundation and is a blemish on our country's history. If we are to change course and make our world a better place, we must face this problem head-on and act now to enact positive change.
It is time to accept accountability and acknowledge the ramifications of slavery and racial injustice."
"Though we cannot right all the wrongs of our country's history, we can: arrest and charge the police officers for Breonna Taylor's killing, and the shooting of Jacob Blake. Demand that Senator Mitch McConnell bring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the Senate floor for vote," the statement read.
The team added that it will, "use our platform to drive change now – not just for our generation, but for the generations that follow, for our sons and daughters and for their children."
The sports world was upended on Wednesday when the Milwaukee Bucks became the first team to boycott a playoff game in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The NBA followed up by postponing all of Wednesday night's games with the WNBA, MLS and several MLB teams following suit.
In the NFL, the Detroit Lions canceled practice, the Washington Football Team postponed their Thursday scrimmage and the Indianapolis Colts did the same.
Prior to Ravens practice, head coach John Harbaugh huddled his players around him and delivered a speech for several minutes before the session started. According to reports, several players sat out Thursday's practice though it is unclear which of those did so out of protest.
