The Players Coalition and a group of current and former athletes and coaches sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray calling for an immediate federal investigation into the controversial death of Ahmaud Arbery.
The letter, which was also sent to Deputy Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband, was signed by 64 athletes and coaches, including Tom Brady, Steve Kerr and Players Coalition co-founders Anquan Boldin and Saints defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, to bring attention to the fatal shooting of a black jogger in southern Georgia on Feb. 23.
“The local investigation into this case is marred by conflicts, inaction, [the second assigned prosecutor’s] very deliberate attempt to ensure that Mr. Arbery received no justice, and the current prosecutor’s total failure to act until social media forced his hand,” the letter says. “The local police force can never be independent, as the elder-McMichael used to work there. And [the second assigned prosecutor’s] statements about the case surely have tainted the local jury pool. If people are to have faith in the justice system, the Department of Justice must act with the FBI leading the investigation.”
The Players Coalition was formed in 2017 in order to raise awareness about police and community relations, criminal justice reform and education and economic advancement. It was created following the dispute between NFL team owners and players who were kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to social injustice.
Arbery was shot and killed by a white father-son tandem, Travis and Greg McMichael, while out for a jog. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged the father and son this week with murder and aggravated assault after a viral video of the shooting sparked national outrage.
Jenkins also released a statement through the Players Coalition as well, per Pro Football Talk.
“The absence of justice is ever present,” Jenkins said. “Another black life has been taken by a bullet and the slaying justified by white fear. A coordinated attack on a man, who did nothing more than go on a jog, was recorded and yet it took this long for police to make an arrest and for prosecutors to take the case to a grand jury. And this only happened because of public outcry. We need to eliminate laws like the citizens’ arrest law relied upon here, laws that justify the taking of innocent lives. We need elected officials who hold those who cause unmitigated harm accountable. We need massive change. The time is now — the cycle can’t continue.”
Lebron James was one of the first prominent athletes to take a stand over Arbery’s death, writing on Twitter shortly after the disturbing video went viral.
“We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes! Can’t even go for a damn jog man! Like WTF man are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!? No man fr [for real] ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I’m sorry Ahmaud(Rest In Paradise) and my prayers and blessings sent to the heavens above to your family!”
