Tag: Joique Bell

Watch: Lions collaborate with former players for series of Juneteenth messages

The Detroit Lions collaborated with several former players for series of Juneteenth video messages on social justice.

Earlier in the week, the Detroit Lions released a prepared statement declaring Juneteenth a permanent organizational holiday.

“The Detroit Lions and Ford Field are establishing the observance of Juneteenth as a permanent organizational holiday and closing their offices Friday, June, 19th,” The Lions statement read. “Staff will be encouraged to use the day as an opportunity to reflect and further their awareness around racial inequality and social justice.”

Today, in addition to observing Juneteenth, the Lions used their social media platform to share video messages from former players as a way of “bringing awareness to social injustices in our world.”

You can watch all of the video’s in the tweets below:

Nate Burleson

Stephen Tulloch

Robert Porcher

Dre Bly

Joique Bell

Andre Fluellen

Former Lions RB Joique Bell to lead ‘Belle Isle Freedom March’ on Friday

Former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell helped organize and will lead the “Belle Isle Freedom March” on Friday in Detroit.

Former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell helped organize and will lead the “Belle Isle Freedom March” on Friday in Detroit, with the goal of working towards strengthening relationships between minority communities and local police.

The march starts at 3:00 pm EST, and participants will begin silently walking from Gabriel Richard Park just before the bridge at 4:00 pm.

“It isn’t just a march just to say we did it,” Bell told Dave Birkett of the Free Press. “It’s to march and then to start a dialogue and to bridge that gap with the civilians who are Detroit citizens and also with the local police and the state police, and ultimately kind of be the staple of this is how you should go about creating a change.”

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#belleislefreedommarch

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In an effort to gain more awareness for this event, Bell reached out to the Lions and asked them to support him.

“When I called president (Rod) Wood and told him about our initiative and what we’re trying to get accomplished and what we wanted to get done, he was all in, no questions asked,” Bell said. “(Wood asked), ‘What do we need? How can we be a part? We want this to be successful and we want you guys to know that we are standing with you. That spoke volume to his character and the organization.”

The Lions have promoted the march on social media and several members of the organization, including players, plan on attending.

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