Dabo Swinney took action on Saturday after being mired in controversy amid international protests against racial injustice. The Clemson Tigers coach spoke to a Black Lives Matter rally at the university, and delivered a message against racism and police brutality.
“This is beautiful, and I just appreciate everyone supporting this community today. Clemson is a special place, and we see again what that is today,” Swinney said. “This is a historic time and a challenging time, but as I tell my team all the time, challenge is what creates change.
“I believe with all my heart that god stopped the world in 2020, so we could have perfect vision and clearly see the social and racial injustice and the changes that need to occur in our society. Now is the time to push for equal justice and no longer tolerate police brutality or racism of any kind in this country. But as you saw today, it has to be everybody’s responsibility … to be more aware, to learn more and to speak out against racial inequality.”
"It has to be everybody’s responsibility to be more aware, to learn more and to speak out against racial inequality."
Dabo Swinney addressed the crowd during today's demonstration at Clemson.
(via @AaronCheslock)pic.twitter.com/yzZzrMY1iy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 13, 2020
His address comes after Swinney faced accusations that one of his staffers used a racial epithet and received no punishment. Swinney also recently wore a “Football Matters” shirt, which many took as a mockery of the Black Lives Matter Movement, which has helped mobilize so many peaceful protests around the world following the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody after officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s back and neck for almost nine minutes.
It’s one thing for Swinney to speak on these values. Hopefully, he and his staff will embody them for years to come.
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