The Lions canceled practice Tuesday to take a stand after the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Lions players stood outside their practice facility in Allen Park with a white board that said, "The world can't go on" and on the other side, "We won't be silent." A group of them addressed the media on hand, starting with veteran safety Duron Harmon.
"While some people think we are just football players, this league, 67 percent, two-thirds of its players, are African American," Harmon said. "Jacob Blake could have been anybody's brother, cousin, uncle, friend, could have been them. And it wasn't okay."
Blake, a Black man, was shot multiple times in the back by police in Wisconsin Sunday. Video of the incident has spread quickly on social media, reigniting protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
The Lions aren't staying quiet.
"We Won't Be Silent!!" message from Lions players pic.twitter.com/8jgCQBwgQh
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 25, 2020The Detroit Lions organization is going to take a stand that what happened to Jacob Blake is "Not okay." Duron Harmon first addressing assembled media. pic.twitter.com/xOqFDFNY0V
— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) August 25, 2020#OnePride pic.twitter.com/8qZvoQHHdr
— Danny Shelton (@Danny_Shelton55) August 25, 2020Matthew Stafford also spoke on the issues.
Stafford: We had our team meeting this morning and no football was talked about. Coach just opened the floor. The conversations lasted four hours and it was incredible to be a part of it.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 25, 2020
