Tag: police brutality

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.

Seahawks players pledge $500,000 in grants for policy reform

The Seahawks Players Equality & Justice for all Action Fund will donate $500,000 in grant money regarding law enforcement policy reform

In the wake of the untimely death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as well as countless other deaths in the African-American community, many sports organizations have put out statements condemning the senseless acts of violence and offering their sympathy to the friends and family of the victims.

For many, that is the end of the statement.

However, the Seattle Seahawks are doing more than just offering thoughts and prayers. They are putting their money where their mouth is, and offering up $500,000 in grants from the Seahawks Players Equality & Justice for all Action Fund.

“We hope to advance conversations related to reformation in our nation’s current policies regarding hiring and training within law enforcement, judiciary protections and accountability, and for advanced education related to the history of race in America,” the statement read.

The Seahawks Players Equality & Justice for all Action Fund was started back in 2017 as a way for Seahawks players to help “create lasting change and build a more compassionate and inclusive society.”

Former Seahawk Doug Baldwin had a massive role in the initial creation of the fund, and he had a hand in this recent $500,000 grant as well, even though he is no longer with the team after medically retiring before the 2019 season.

“I think Doug did an amazing job with [the fund], he was in the loop building that,” Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner commented on a Zoom call with Seattle media on Monday. “I definitely feel like we are just trying to figure out a way to impact our community in a meaningful way. Do it in a way where the money that is being given is providing real change and helping people that are affected by things like this.”

The Seahawks have yet to determine the recipients of the grant money, but if you want to be involved you can donate to the Seahawks Players Equality & Justice for all Action Fund here.

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Ex-NBA star Stephen Jackson mourns the death of his ‘twin’ George Floyd

Stephen Jackson knew Floyd growing up in Houston.

George Floyd’s death while in police custody on Monday has stirred up a massive public outcry against police brutality both in Minneapolis where it happened and across the country.

The four officers who arrested Floyd have yet to be publicly identified but have since been fired by the Minneapolis police department.

One of the people who was deeply affected by Floyd’s death was former NBA star Stephen Jackson, who grew up in Texas — Floyd was a Houston native.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, a visibly upset Jackson explained that he was close friends with Floyd and even called him his “twin” (WARNING: There’s some NSFW language ahead).

This is what I gotta wake up to. Floyd was my brother, man. We called each other “Twin,” bruh. Everybody know me and Floyd called each other “Twin.” My brother was only out there in Minnesota, he was changing his life, he went to Minnesota, he was driving trucks. I just sent him two, three boxes of clothes. My boy was doing what he was supposed to do, man, and y’all go kill my brother, man. I’m on my way to Minnesota, man. Whatever I can do, can’t let this ride, dog. Y’all not going to be mad until it hits you front door. Bull (expletive).”

Jackson followed up by posting photos of Floyd on his Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CArFPQBFiSw/

Well wishes to Floyd’s family and friends, including Jackson, as they all try to get through this tough time.

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Report: Seahawks will have representative at Colin Kaepernick’s workout

Per a report, the Seattle Seahawks are among the many teams who will send a representative to Colin Kaepernick’s NFL workout on Saturday.

The Seattle Seahawks have made it very clear they are willing to look into every possible situation that could make their team better.

They supposedly had an interest in bringing in Antonio Brown this year, they were the only team to claim Josh Gordon on waivers, and they explored potential trades for Jalen Ramsey as well.

So, it should come as no surprise that the team is planning to send a representative to free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s workout, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

It’s also not a surprise because the league has made it clear they are pushing for each team to have someone present at the workout, even though scheduling it on a Saturday with short notice made it unlikely that top tier officials (like head coaches and general managers) will be in attendance.

Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016, when first he sat, then he kneeled, during the national anthem to protest police brutality and other social justice issues as they related to race in America.

The Seahawks were the last team to even host him on a workout, which happened back in 2017. At the time, coach Pete Carroll said they felt Kaepernick deserved a chance to start in the NFL, and since that wouldn’t happen in Seattle they decided not to bring him in.

Seattle is certainly not among the most quarterback-needy teams in the league, with Russell Wilson’s health among the best in the league and quality backup Geno Smith on call if needed.

However, the team’s connection to Kaepernick in the past makes it at least noteworthy that they’ll be in attendance, even if a partnership between the two sides seems unlikely, barring some kind of injury to Wilson or Smith.

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