The Green Bay Packers have gone to their players to lead the way in sharing the team’s official statement on the issues of racism, particularly the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police.
The Packers posted a video sharing the team’s thoughts through its social media channel:
Enough is enough.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 4, 2020
It’s time for change. pic.twitter.com/AS7wP9qz2x
The video begins with Packers players’ faces, some of whom have a distraught look, some possibly tearful, all of whom look deeply serious.
“I’m embarrassed,” offensive lineman Billy Turner says. “Embarrassed as a human.”
It goes around the roster with an individual word, ending with “disgusted” coming from Aaron Rodgers.
“Enough is enough” then comes from a large group of his teammates.
Numerous African-American teammates spoke out.
“I am a human, just like all of you. My blood is red and my heart pumps that blood,” said Turner, among many of those teammates of color. Their white teammates and the head coach of the Packers backed them up.
“Antiquated laws and legislation needs to be amended or repealed, especially those prejudicially biased to people of color,” said Rodgers.
“Come up with real solutions to make significant changes. The right actions speak a lot louder than the right words,” added Coach Matt LaFleur.
“We ask that you commit to listening with an open heart,” said Rodgers.
Then he and a long list of teammates shared a five-word sentence to finish the video.
“It is time for change.”