Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is among 1,400 current and former professional athletes that have added their signature to a letter from the Players Coalition that is urging members of the United States Congress to support a bill that would end police immunity.
"The time for debate about the unchecked authority of the police is over;" the letter states in the opening paragraph, "it is now time for change."
The bill, which was introduced on June 4 by Reps. Justin Amash and Ayanna Pressley, would eliminate qualified immunity for police officers and "restore Americans' ability to obtain relief when state and local officials, including police officers, violate their legal and constitutionally secured right."
The letter from the Player's Coalition, in part, reads:
Qualified immunity has shielded some of the worst law enforcement officials in America. The 8th Circuit applied it to an officer who wrapped a woman in a bear hug, slammed her to the ground, and broke her collarbone as she walked away from him. The 9th Circuit applied the doctrine to two officers who allegedly stole $225,000 while executing a search warrant. The Eleventh Circuit applied the doctrine to protect an officer who unintentionally shot a ten-year old while firing at the family dog (who, much like the child, posed no threat). The list of officers who suffered no consequences because of this doctrine could fill a law book.
It is time for Congress to eliminate qualified immunity, and it can do so by passing the Amash-Pressley bill. When police officers kill an unarmed man, when they beat a woman, or when they shoot a child, the people of this country must have a way to hold them accountable in a court of law. And officers must know that if they act in such a manner, there will be repercussions. A legal system that does not provide such a recourse is an illegitimate one. In their grief, people have taken to the streets because for too long, their government has failed to protect them. The Courts and elected officials alike have instead shielded people who caused unspeakable harm. Congress must not be complicit in these injustices, and it should take this important step to show that law enforcement abuse will not be tolerated.
You can read the full Players Coalition letter here, and read the full Amash-Pressley bill here.
Wentz signing the letter is yet another example of the Eagles franchise quarterback using his platform this offseason to support those fighting to end systemic racism.
There have been protests around the country for weeks following the death of George Floyd, who passed away last month following Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder. Wentz released the following statement on Twitter last month as protests started:
Been thinking about the George Floyd situation and thinking of the words to say & coming up empty. All I know is that the institutional racism in this country breaks my heart and needs to stop. Can't even fathom what the black community has to endure on a daily basis. Being from North Dakota, I've spent a large part of my life surrounded by people of similar color, so I'm never gonna act like I know what the black community goes through or even has gone through already. I'll never know the feeling of having to worry about my kids going outside because of their skin color. However, I do know that we are all equal at the foot of the cross and Jesus Taught us to value others' lives like they were our own — regardless of skin tone. So, this might see like a ramble — and perhaps it is. I don't understand the society that we live in that doesn't value all human life. It's heartbreaking and disturbing. My prayers go out to every man, woman, and child that has to endure the effects of racism in our society.
In addition to Wentz, safety Rodney McLeod and tight end Zach Ertz both added their signature to the bill. Former-Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins signature is also on the letter.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
