McCutchen, Kerr, Popovich, other pro athletes jointly write op-ed: 'We need to transform American policing now'
Andrew McCutchen, Anquan Boldin, Demario Davis, Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich co-wrote an editorial that appears on USATODAY.com today arguing that the recent deaths of black Americans at the hands of white Americans, including police officers, shows that we need an overhaul of our national policing system.
McCutchen plays baseball for the Phillies. Boldin was an NFL wide receiver for 14 seasons. Davis plays linebackger for the Saints. Kerr and Popovich are the coaches of the NBA’s Warriors and Spurs, respectively.
In the editorial, the five write about the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, who were all killed in the last few months at the hands of white Americans and the police.
When these killings occur, we tweet, we write letters, we make videos demanding accountability. We protest and we vow to change hearts and minds so that our young men can run through the streets without fear. And soon after, we see another officer kill a black person, usually a man, and usually without consequence. Where, we wonder, is the “accountability” allegedly so important when it comes to arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating young people of color?
They go on to offer concrete solutions to the problem, including breaking down the power of police unions to protect bad actors, and calling on Congress to end “qualified immunity,” which protects police officers from legal liability.
The entire op-ed is worth a read over at USA TODAY.
