During a Zoom conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson recalled instances of being profiled by police while a member of the Houston Texans.
“I think for me it’s the fact of still having to be racially profiled regardless of who I am,” Jackson said. “Like you said, when I take that uniform off, I’m just another regular citizen. I’m just another regular African American. I’ve been in several situations in which I’ve been racially profiled by cops.
“I was just telling someone earlier a story about this is back when I played in Houston and getting pulled over and once they walk up to the car and they see me, they instantly ask, ‘Whose car is this?’ For me, it’s an insult. Just right off the bat, what makes you ask me that question? Like I can’t afford this type of car? Granted, they obviously don’t know who I am, but because I’m an African American driving a nice car, what makes you think I can’t afford this car? I think that’s the biggest issue. That’s the obvious issue.”
Jackson said that society needs to change so those kinds of situations don’t continue happening.
“We shouldn’t have to go out and be in public and look over our shoulder just because of our race,” Jackson said. “That’s definitely one of the things that has to come to a stop.”
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