On Thursday afternoon in Austin, members of the Texas Longhorns staff and football team went on a march to the state capital. The march started at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and ended at the steps of the state capital building. The entire group kneeled for nine minutes in honor of George Floyd before defensive back Chris Brown spoke up.
“As you kneel in honor of George Floyd, as we approach the nine-minute mark, think about not having life after reaching that nine-minute mark,” Brown told the assembled gathering. “Think about no air being in your body as you reach that nine-minute mark. Think about having a life squeezed out of you.
“After nine minutes, there ain’t no more of this. After nine minutes, you can’t see no more. You can’t hear, you can’t breathe — nothing. After nine minutes, it’s over.”
“So as we approach this nine-minute mark,” Brown continued, “I want you to think about how George Floyd felt, as the life and the air was being squeezed out this man’s body. For a non-violent crime.” Chris Brown via USA TODAY Sports
Following Brown’s speech Texas directory of player development got on the bull horn to make an emotional speech.
“What kind of world do we live in where people will watch somebody die! For nine minutes! For NINE MINUTES! They watched somebody die!,” Washington said.
“We can’t go back down,” he said. “We can’t go back down until somebody lays us down in that box. I pray that all of you die of old age saying I did the right thing and I said the right things.”
Along with Chris Brown and Kevin Washington, safety Caden Sterns also spoke up at the rally at the capital. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger weighed in on his stance during the walk back to campus.
You can read the full article from Brian Davis Austin-American Statesman/USA TODAY Sports here.