Boston’s Jaylen Brown supports George Floyd bill for police reform

Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.

While it might appear to an outsider that there’s been a bit of slippage on the racial and social justice commitment component to the NBA’s restarted season in the Disney bubble, a lot of work has been going on in the background, too.

One example of this is the Boston Celtics’ recently-announced creation of “Boston Celtics United”, a $25 million plan to combat racial inequity and promote social justice in six key areas, which include educational, economic, criminal justice, social unity and voting and civic engagement interventions paid for by the fund.

“It’s a great monetary commitment,” Brown said of the plan, which he was consulted for.

“I think just having the right balance of long and short-term change [is needed],” he added. “A lot of time the response is, ‘Change happens over time, it takes this amount of years. I think there’s some things in our wheelhouse that can be changed right now.”

“And part of that is just pushing some things,” noted Brown.

“One thing I would like to see in Boston is the George Floyd bill enacted,” offered the Georgia native.

This legislation — formally known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 — was created to fight police misconduct, excessive force, and racial discrimination at the hands of law enforcement.

“Having conversations about police, qualified immunity and things like that — some things just need to be held accountable, and hopefully Boston can be a place where a tone is set and it can be transported in other places and other cities that need [it] the most.”

How is his new home city doing in regards to such matters, in Brown’s opinion?

“I think Boston is doing a good job of moving in the right direction,” suggested the Cal-Berkeley product.

“But there’s definitely some things that need to be changed, and some companies, some organizations that can be diversified, some opportunities that people of color can have that aren’t necessarily getting those chances, and just continue to move in the right direction.”

And while the city of Boston has earned its reputation as one of the most racially problematic in the northeast, it’s far from alone in needing to make changes to better support its Black and brown citizenry.

Surprising to many non-fans, the Celtics’ initiative is not a new commitment to racial equity — it’s a long-standing tenet of the organization.

The first Black player drafted, the first Black coach of a major North American sport in the modern era, the home of one of the most outspoken champions of civil rights in one Bill Russell.

Anti-racism is undeniably part of the franchise’s DNA, whatever you want to believe about its fanbase.

“I’m proud to be a part of the Celtics organization,” said Brown.

“I’m proud to have a ownership group or a leadership group as willing to take these steps because they recognize that we need to live in a better, more progressive world. And I’m happy that they asked my input as a 23 year old, coming from disadvantaged communities, and having a certain perspective being here in Boston, growing up in Atlanta and going to school in California-Berkeley.”

“I’m just happy that the mindsets are shifting, and hopefully we can continue this and make this a long-term commitment, as well as the short term.”

We’re proud to have a brilliant mind like Jaylen’s fighting for what’s right on this roster.

He’s pretty good at that basketball stuff, too.

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