The Green Bay Packers issued a statement on the police-involved shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, located roughly 150 miles south of Green Bay. Video of the shooting surfaced on social media Sunday night.
The victim, Jacob Blake, remains in serious condition at a Milwaukee hospital.
The team’s statement comes hours after strong comments from both coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the incident.
The full text from the Packers:
“The Packers organization was shocked to see the video that showed police shooting Jacob Blake multiple times in the back. We are hopeful Jacob makes a full recovery, and our thoughts are with his family.
“While we understand a full investigation of this terrible incident will take place, we are deeply troubled at what again has become a painful example of the significant challenges we face with respect to police brutality, systemic racism and injustices against Black people. We continue to call for meaningful dialogue to affect the needed change we all desire.”
The Packers held a meeting with the team’s leadership council to talk through the new incident and determine what the team will do next. An official statement from the team was clearly part of the plan.
Here’s LaFleur’s emotional response following practice and the leadership meeting:
Matt LaFleur was especially emotional when asked what it’s been like for him to digest what he saw in video of Jacob Blake’s shooting. “It keeps happening over, and over, and over again, and it blows my mind that we’re sitting here in 2020, and we can’t treat everybody the same.” pic.twitter.com/FEEkGDgCZu
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 24, 2020
Here’s Rodgers following practice:
Aaron Rodgers’ thoughts in aftermath of Jacob Blake’s shooting.
“One action by a cop doesn’t mean that every cop is unfit for duty or racist, but it gives them a bad name. It’s a bad look. I hope there can be cops who can speak out as we’re speaking out about these things.” pic.twitter.com/DJOmD2oXR0
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 24, 2020
Following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Packers donated a half-million dollars to social justice initiatives in Wisconsin.
The team also released this video statement featuring several players:
Enough is enough.
It's time for change. pic.twitter.com/AS7wP9qz2x
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 4, 2020
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