Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills was released after being arrested during a protest seeking justice for Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday.
Stills posted to his Instagram story a photo of himself with a Breonna Taylor t-shirt, a mask bearing her name, and a hashtag calling for the arrest of the police officers who killed her earlier this year.
#Texans WR @KSTiLLS, after being arrested during a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, posts Instagram story calling for arrests of police officers who killed Breonna Taylor. pic.twitter.com/dXixS1D5Sp
— SportsRadio 610 (@SportsRadio610)
July 15, 2020Stills, 28, was part of a group who marched to the home of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to demand action against the police officers who shot and killed Taylor inside of her home in March.
The killing was part of a "no-knock" warrant officers were serving at the home.Stills was among 87 protesters arrested at the protest.
Charges against Stills mirror those of 86 others who were arrested Tuesday, according to the Courier-Journal.
Stills' agent Ryan Williams said on Twitter that the wide receiver stood on a lawn, asked for justice and was arrested.
"(Stills) has officially spent more time in jail fighting for justice than the known killers who killed Breonna Taylor," Williams
tweeted.
Kenny Stills:- stood on a lawn- asked for justice- got arrestedCops that killed Breonna Taylor:- kicked in her door- killed her- didn't get arrested@KSTiLLS has officially spent more time in jail fighting for justice than the known killers who killed Breonna Taylor.
— Ryan Williams (@RyanWilliamsA1)
July 15, 2020Stills' teammates and players around the league have also been vocal on Twitter, expressing the same sentiment as Williams.
Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard
tweeted "SMH they arresting the wrong ppl!"
SMH they arresting the wrong ppl! How you’re going to arrest him for protesting but the cops who killed Breonna Taylor haven’t been arrested?#FreeKennyStills https://t.co/vxVzVtngET
— Tytus Howard (@levelstothis_2)
July 15, 2020Cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. said "stand for something or fall for anything" in support of Stills.
SMh stand for something or fall for anything we with you brodie FREE STILLS ‼️ https://t.co/pw5eiNk86d
— Lonnie Johnson jr. (@Lonnie30johnson)
July 15, 2020Wide receiver Randall Cobb, who was signed this offseason, said "Imagine your daughter/sister/friend being murdered because the police raided the WRONG place. Not one person being held accountable THEN arresting protesters for said CRIME. #ArrestTheKillersOfBreonnaTaylor."
Imagine your daughter/sister/friend being murdered because the police raided the WRONG place. Not one person being held accountable THEN arresting protesters for said CRIME. #ArrestTheKillersOfBreonnaTaylor
— Randall Cobb (@rcobb18)
July 15, 2020Outside linebacker Jacob Martin said "Our Justice system is a freaking joke... Please explain to me how you can arrest and charge 87 people with felonies but not Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor... #Blasphemous #ThisIsAmerica" then added "#FREEKENNYSTILLS."
Our Justice system is a freaking joke... Please explain to me how you can arrest and charge 87 people with felonies but not Arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor... #Blasphemous #ThisIsAmerica
— Jacob Martin (@JacobSpeaks_)
July 15, 2020Safety Michael Thomas called Stills a true hero and encouraged him to keep leading.
True Hero!!! Keep leading @KSTiLLS ✊-- https://t.co/PDXClXCbhz
— Michael Thomas (@Michael31Thomas)
July 15, 2020A Louisville police spokesperson said in a statement that Cameron requested the protesters on his property be charged with trespassing and all of them were given the opportunity to leave before being arrested.
Stills has been a vocal and visible activist since he was with the Miami Dolphins in 2017, when he took a knee during the national anthem in protest of racism and police brutality.
He continued his demonstrations after being traded to the Texans in 2019.
