Tag: george floyd death

Jets issue statement following Derek Chauvin murder conviction

“Today’s verdict will not bring back a life, but we hope that it helps Mr. Floyd’s family find a measure of peace,” the Jets said in a statement.

The Jets issued a statement Tuesday night after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd earlier in the day.

“Today’s verdict will not bring back a life, but we hope that it helps Mr. Floyd’s family find a measure of peace,” the team said. “This decision is a step towards addressing the challenges that continue to exist. It is important for everyone to remain focused on injustices in our society that do not have the attention this case garnered. We are committed to continuing our work and encourage all to remain steadfast towards improving our communities for all people.”

Floyd was killed on May 25 after Chauvin, an on-duty officer, forced his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine and a half minutes during an arrest. The 45-year-old Chauvin’s trial culminated Tuesday when a jury found him guilty of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

“I would not call today’s verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. “But it is accountability, which is the first step toward justice.”

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CJ Mosley explains why Christopher Johnson gave his number to every Jets player

Amidst social and racial injustice that have sparked protests in America, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson is willing to listen to his players.

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson has always made it a point to take care of his players in the short time he’s been running the team.

That’s why it comes as no surprise that Johnson gave his cell phone number to every player on the team, according to Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, who spoke with reporters over Zoom on Wednesday. Johnson informed the team that he was willing to listen if players wanted to reach out and talk about social and racial injustice with the topic at the forefront of America’s focus.

The Jets had already released a statement in which the organization vowed to take action and be part of meaningful conversations and positive change following the death of George Floyd. Johnson, however, wanted to make sure that his team heard him beyond the statement made on behalf of the organization.

This isn’t the first time that the Jets CEO has made it a point to listen to his players’ concerns regarding off-the-field matters. When the NFL originally proposed fining players who kneeled during the national anthem in 2018, Johnson backed players’ right to protest by offering to pay any fines they accumulated. Johnson has also gotten involved in community efforts organized by Jets players.

Like Mosley, former Jets Jermaine Kearse and Kelvin Beachum and former head coach Todd Bowles have expressed gratitude for Johnson’s willingness to listen and his ability to resonate with the organization.

Two years later, it appears that hasn’t changed.

Jets say they hope to unite communities in statement on racial injustice

The New York Jets want to contribute in any way possible to bring an end to racial injustice in the United States.

Like so many other NFL franchises, the New York Jets shared a statement Wednesday on the death of George Floyd and racial injustice in the United States.

The statement, which was attributed to the organization as a whole, said that the Jets spoke with their players, coaches, executives and ownership on Monday about how they want to “unite our communities” and create “positive change.”

They also recognized all the protests happening around the country and said that people need to see the “powerful images of protestors and law enforcement working together in efforts to connect.” The Jets concluded their statement by saying they want to “create programs and partnerships of which we, along with the community, can look back on years from now and be proud.”

The Jets’ statement follows days of nationwide protests after Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin killed Floyd while restraining him by forcing his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. Chauvin was subsequently fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Protests have since erupted across the country and globe, including big cities in the United States such as New York City, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

The Jets’ statement came after two of their top players, Jamal Adams and Le’Veon Bell, expressed their opinions on the topic. Adams said in a tweet that his heart goes out to the family and friends of Floyd and that the police need to “stop killing us.” Bell tweeted that “America is hurting.”

The Jets, as an organization, have been vocal when it comes to matters of social and racial injustice since CEO Christopher Johnson took control of the team’s day to day operations from his older brother, Woody. The elder sibling was named the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom by President Donald Trump in June 2017. At the time, Colin Kaepernick’s movement to protest social and racial injustice was at its height and widespread throughout the NFL despite him being a free agent.

Jets RB Le’Veon Bell says ‘America is hurting’ after George Floyd’s killing

Jets running back Le’Veon Bell took to Twitter on Tuesday to issue a statement following George Floyd’s killing.

Jets running back Le’Veon Bell has issued a statement in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Bell wrote on Twitter that he waited until Tuesday to speak because of the “hurt” he has felt since Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin on May 25.

Floyd was killed after Chauvin forced his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. Chauvin has since been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Floyd’s killing and other deaths in the black community have led to widespread protests across the United States calling for an end to police brutality against black people and minorities. Other countries around the world have also gotten involved with their own protests.

“I’ve held onto my words because I still haven’t been able to find the right thing to say,” Bell wrote. “I’m hurt, WE are hurt, AMERICA is hurting, and I can’t even find words to express to you how bad I feel.”

Bell is the latest Jets player to issue a statement, as Jamal Adams did so on Monday night.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery,” Adams said. “They’re more than just hashtags. It’s disgusting that we don’t have time to deal with our trauma before the next tragedy. We can’t let these conversations die and can’t forget about those we’ve lost. Stop killing us.”

Bell’s statement accompanied a blacked-out picture and the hashtag #BlackOutTuesday to accompany the trend that swept social media throughout the day. The Jets posted their own blacked-out picture along with the same hashtag but had yet to release any sort of statement at the time of Bell’s tweet.

‘Stop killing us,’ Jets’ Jamal Adams pleads in passionate statement

New York Jets All-Pro safety Jamal Adams made his voice heard with a statement released on Twitter on Monday night.

Jets safety Jamal Adams made his voice heard on Monday night, as New York’s All-Pro safety took to Twitter to release a powerful statement in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

 

Protests across the United States broke out this weekend after Minneapolis police office Derrick Chauvin killed Floyd while restraining him by forcing his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. Chauvin was subsequently fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Some protests have been peaceful, while others have had violence break out. The demonstrations have been in an effort to bring an end to police brutality against black people and minorities.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery,” Adams said. “They’re more than just hashtags. It’s disgusting that we don’t have time to deal with our trauma before the next tragedy. We can’t let these conversations die and can’t forget about those we’ve lost. Stop killing us.”

Adams, who is black, has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind since entering the NFL in 2017. As one of the Jets’ leaders on and off the field, it comes as no surprise that he would speak out on Floyd’s killing and other similar deaths that have recently occurred in the black community.

The 24-year-old Adams is not the first to speak out about Floyd’s death and he certainly will not be the last. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz issued an emotional statement last week, while Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson voiced their displeasures in separate statements, calling for an end to the “senseless murders” on Monday. Many other players around the league and the sports world have chimed in as well.

The Jets, at the time of Adams’ statement, had yet to release one of their own.

Floyd Mayweather to pay for funeral of George Floyd

The family of George Floyd has accepted Floyd Mayweather’s offer to pay for his funeral.

Floyd Mayweather is doing what he can for the family of George Floyd.

The retired boxer offered to pay for the funeral of Floyd, the African American man who died after police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on the back of his neck for almost nine minutes last Tuesday in Minneapolis, TMZ reported.

And the family accepted the offer, according to ESPN.

“He’ll probably get mad at me for saying that, but, yes, [Mayweather] is definitely paying for the funeral,” said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions.

“… “Floyd has done these kind of things over the last 20 years.”

Mayweather paid for the funeral of former opponent Genaro Hernandez in 2011, ESPN reported. Hernandez, a former titleholder, died from cancer.

Floyd’s funeral reportedly is set for June 9 in Floyd’s hometown of Houston.

Floyd’s death has triggered protests nationwide.

Players Coalition releases statement regarding the death George Floyd and others

In light of the recent unrest in our country following the death of George Floyd, the Players Coalition issued a statement.

The death of George Floyd last week has sparked unrest and protests across the country after Floyd, an African-American, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer. It’s the latest in a recent string of incidents that has brought the topic of racism to the forefront of society once again.

The outrage is real, and even celebrities and athletes have spoken out about it. Buccaneers rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. took part in a protest over the weekend in Minneapolis, and today Tom Brady retweeted the below statement from the Players Coalition talking about Floyd and others.

Take a look.

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