The Las Vegas Raiders are facing a backlash over a tweet following trial verdict Derek Chauvin. The former police officer was convicted of second-degree manslaughter, third-degree murder and second-degree murder on the death of George Floyd.
Shortly after reading the verdict, the Raiders tweeted the words “I can breathe,” followed by the date. The publication immediately faced criticism, and many considered it insensitive. Floyd, 46, was heard saying “I can’t breathe” as Chauvin knelt on his neck on May 25, 2020, for more than nine minutes, and finally killed him.
Team owner Mark Davis took responsibility for the tweet and told CBS affiliate KLAS that he was inspired by Floyd’s brother, Philonise, who said something similar on Tuesday. “Today we can breathe again because justice for George means freedom for all,” Philonise said.
Davis told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he would only apologize if he believed the Floyd family was offended. “I think justice was done,” Davis said. “It’s weird that he makes statements about anything, and if he thought he was offending the family (Floyd), I’d feel really bad and apologize. Other than that, I don’t apologize. I think (honestly) after listening to Philonise, this it ‘s a day we can all breathe. “
In a statement Wednesday, Philonise expressed his family’s “deepest gratitude” to the Raiders organization for its support for his family and the country’s “pursuit of justice and equality for all.”
“Now, more than ever, we need to come together as one and continue in this struggle. For the first time in almost a year, our family has breathed. And I know this applies to everyone across the country and the world. “We also took that breath together in honor of my older brother who couldn’t. Let’s do it for George,” the statement said.
The phrase “I can’t breathe” was also used as a protest cry in the aftermath of Eric Garner’s death due to a strangulation administered by a New York City police officer in 2014. ” I can breathe ”was used as a slogan for police demonstrations at the time.
In response to the Raiders’ tweet, with LeBron James, former NBA player Jason Collins and others expressed their displeasure on Tuesday.
The NFL faced a similar reaction Tuesday after publishing a statement that many considered deaf because of the league’s treatment of players who have protested police violence.
Colin Kaepernick, who first led the kneeling protests during the national anthem in 2016 to draw attention to police brutality and racial injustice, remains unsigned despite a history that included a Super Bowl appearance with the San Francisco 49ers. In a statement last year, Kaepernick called on the NFL for “negative” security Eric Reid, who joined Kaepernick to protest police violence, but has yet to be signed by any team.