Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence Has Powerful Response to George Floyd’s Death
By Tyler Kemp
On Monday evening, a video was posted online of a Minneapolis police officer keeping his knee on the neck of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis who died later that day. The outcry in Minneapolis has been enormous, as citizens of the city have been protesting the killing vociferously for the last few days.
While the officers shown in the video have been fired from the MPD (though not disciplined further) and the protests have been going strong in the city, athletes are also letting their voices be heard on the matter. Cowboys star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence wants America to wake up and listen.
DONE BEING QUIET AND DONE BEING ANGRY. HOW CAN WE FEEL SAFE WHEN THOSE MEANT TO PROTECT US ARE KILLIN’ US?!!!! WHEN WILL MINORITIES BE FREE TO BE AMERICANS IN AMERICA!?
— DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) May 26, 2020
In short, Lawrence is tired, and so are many others. Police brutality against black and brown bodies has been a pressing issue for far too long. The intersection between sports and social and political issues is as prevalent as ever.
Instead of focusing on just micro problem of the death of Floyd, Lawrence realizes there is a bigger matter at hand that is yet to be resolved.
MISSING THE POINT!!!! They killed this man using lethal force when he was obviously subdued and struggling to breathe.
— DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) May 26, 2020
Lawrence asks a great question about when minorities will be free to be Americans. Supposedly a department that is supposed to serve and protect its people, Minneapolis PD failed miserably in protecting the life of George Floyd, another black man who lost his life at the hands of lethal force used by law enforcement.