Prescott: "As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!"
Wednesday 3 June 2020 20:29, UK
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has pledged to donate $1m (£793,850) for police training and addressing "systemic racism" in the U.S.A, following the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, 46, died last week in Minneapolis after police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck for at least eight minutes while arresting him for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 note in a shop.
In a powerful Instagram post, 26-year-old Prescott wrote: "We will clean our streets and our communities not only of the looting and violence, but most importantly the racism, racial-profiling and hate.
"I plan to take action and pledge $1,000,000 to improve our police training and address our systemic racism through education and advocacy in our country."
On the nationwide protests over the last week, he added: "I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving your communities.
"When you chose to wear the badge of a police officer, you pledged to PROTECT life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations.
"How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your own ranks don't abide by it?
"You need to hold your own accountable! Each of you are as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide. TAKE ACTION!"
"As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!"
Prescott's NFL side the Cowboys have yet to comment formally on the death of Floyd in Minneapolis.
Several high-profile NFL current and former players and coaches have made donations and have spoken out about Floyd's death and the subsequent protests in the United States.
Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has pledged $1m for social justice reform.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on May 30 calling for a "urgent need for action" and stressed the League was committed to addressing "systemic issues".
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and No 1 overall pick Joe Burrow are among those also who have also advocated a need for societal changes.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who also owns Championship football club Fulham, released a statement outlining his intention to implement actionable change regarding racial inequality.
He decried racial discrimination in the wake of Floyd's death while describing prejudices he faced when arriving as a Pakistani immigrant to the United States in an open letter on the Jaguar's website.
"The events of the past 10 days have been alarming and disheartening," Khan wrote.
"Racial discrimination has no place in our society. That's been said. But, what's been done?
"We must have the answer today, and we will work with players, staff and more to arrive at a timely response. Because this moment, while agonisingly similar in many ways, is unlike any other in our history for underserved people and communities in the United States.
"We cannot attack the virus of racism with indifference or periodic attention. We cannot expect an easy cure or give up when the quest becomes inconvenient or uncomfortable.
"Most of all, we cannot fail our children - children who deserve to know they have the same opportunity to earn a living, have a family and live safely - no matter the colour of their skin.
"Racism, in all its forms, will kill. It kills people, it kills communities, it kills dreams, it kills hope.
"For many Americans, now is the moment. Never has that been clearer."
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