The NFL released a statement on Saturday regarding the death of George Floyd, who was killed earlier this week after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground and choked him with his knee.
Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed condolences to Floyd’s family, as well as relatives of other victims of recent racial injustice, including Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Goodell also emphasized the need for the NFL and the United States as a whole to do more to address systemic racial issues.
The entire statement reads as follows:
“The NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events across our country. The protesters’ reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd and to those who have lost loved ones, including the families of Ms. Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Mr. Ahmaud Arbery, the cousin of Tracy Walker of the Detroit Lions.
“As current events dramatically underscore, there remains much more to do as a country and as a league. These tragedies inform the NFL’s commitment and our ongoing efforts. There remains an urgent need for action. We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society. We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players, clubs and partners.”
The statement has been met with criticism on social media from many who feel the NFL has not done enough to stand up to race-related issues in the past, including how the league handled Colin Kaepernick and other players kneeling during the American national anthem.
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