The Jets canceled practice on Thursday to discuss social and racial injustices in America in wake of the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. That dialogue will continue throughout the season, but not at the expense of any regular season games.
According to Jonotthan Harrison, New York’s conversation did not center around sitting out any regular season contests. The decision to cancel practice was not a protest, either, as the day was used to engage in respectful discussion and debate before returning to the field on Saturday after an already scheduled day off.
“I’m very, very hopeful and very confident that something will come of this,” Harrison said, per the New York Post. “Some change will be made and not just in the Jets organization, but you are seeing other organizations that are realizing what’s going on as well and that they’re buying into this.
“We have too powerful of a platform to not use it. We’re being extra cautious that we’re not misconstrued as trying to attack anybody or anything. We just would like to see some change.”
The Jets’ decision to not practice came after Wednesday’s postponement of all NBA and WNBA games, as well as a few MLB games, as a form of protesting the Blake shooting and racial and social injustice in the United States. The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Football Team were among the teams that also canceled practice, while the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears delayed their practices to discuss social change and issues.
Prior to Thursday, CEO and acting owner Christopher Johnson spoke during a virtual team meeting on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Bradley McDougald and Jamison Crowder shared their hopes for potential action with reporters, as did Marcus Maye earlier in the week.
“At the end of the day, you have to think about it,” Harrison said. “Literally, there are men in that locker room and men and women in this organization, in this building, that have children at home that could be in that situation. So this just hits home. It hits so deep for a lot of people and so I’m thankful to be part of an organization that’s just willing to bind together and help find a way to make some change.”