Hundreds of athletes across the NFL, NBA and MLB joined forces Wednesday to sign and send a Players Coalition letter asking Congress to pass the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, a bill that would fight against police brutality.
Among the more than 1,400 signatures from players, coaches and front office members were a couple of current and former Jets. Cornerback Pierre Desir, wide receiver Breshad Perriman and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams signed the petition, as did at least 37 others with Jets ties, according to ESPN. That included Demario Davis, Kelvin Beachum, Josh McCown and Ty Montgomery.
Congressional representatives Justin Amash (L-MI) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) introduced the bill after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were killed by police. The act would eliminate qualified immunity, which protects members of law enforcement and government officials from Americans who try to sue them when they believe their constitutional rights have been violated.
The Players Coalition, an independent organization that works with sports figures to improve social and racial justice, urged Congress in its letter to make necessary changes to improve the safety of American citizens.
“We are tired of conversations around police accountability that go nowhere, and we have engaged in too many ‘listening sessions,’ where we discuss whether there is a problem of police violence in this country,” the Players Coalition wrote. “There is a problem. The world witnessed it when Officer [Derek] Chauvin murdered George Floyd, and the world is watching it now, as officers deploy enormous force on peaceful protestors like those who were standing outside of the White House last week.”
Today, on behalf of 1100+ athletes & coaches and 300+ front office personnel across the @NFL @NBA & @MLB, we urge Congress to pass the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, introduced by @justinamash & @AyannaPressley
We demand accountability for police brutality. It's time for change. pic.twitter.com/ro7eRmvSK6
— PlayersCoalition (@playercoalition) June 10, 2020
This is the second time the Players Coalition, founded by Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins and former NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin in 2017, reached out to government officials in the past month. On May 8, the coalition asked U.S. Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray to investigate the death Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot and killed in February while he was out for a run in Georgia.
The cross-sport collaboration by the coalition wants to see real improvements when it comes to stopping police brutality, and it starts with the Ending Qualified Immunity Act.
“It is time for Congress to eliminate qualified immunity and it can do so by passing the Amash-Pressley Bill,” the coalition continued in the letter. “When police officers kill an unarmed man, when they beat a woman, or when they shoot a child, the people of this country must have a way to hold them accountable in a court of law.
“The time for debate about the unchecked authority of the police is over; it is now time for change.”