Yahoo News Nick Saban on George Floyd protests: 'It's time to love each other'
Alabama coach Nick Saban issued a statement Sunday afternoon as protests continued across the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody Monday in Minneapolis.
Saban cited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks in his statement and said “it’s time to love each other.” He also noted the deaths of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.
“I am shocked and angered by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery,” Saban said. “We’re at an important moment for our country, and now is the time for us to choose kindness, tolerance, understanding, empathy, and most importantly ... it’s time to love each other. Every life is precious, and we must understand we have so many more things that unite us than divide us.”
“I’ve always been inspired and encouraged by examples set by those who came before us like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and so many others who devoted their lives to finding peaceful ways to rid our society of social inequities. As Dr. King said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’ We are all part of this and we must banish these types of injustices in not just our country, but our world. The ultimate future of our nation is in our hands, and like the teams I’ve been privileged to coach, we must depend on and respect each other no matter our differences. We must come together as a society and treat one another with respect and dignity.”
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) May 31, 2020
Other coaches weigh in
Saban was not the only college football coach to make a statement regarding the unrest in the country. Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason made a passionate plea on Twitter in a thread that we urge you to read by clicking the last tweet of the thread below.
I’m calling on every level of my profession to model leadership in this time of crisis🙏🏾 #RTI #ANCHORDOWN
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
Here are some of the other coaches who weighed in.
“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
— Ryan Day (@ryandaytime) May 29, 2020
I ALWAYS stand with my players and I am thankful that I was raised in a home that taught me that no human, regardless of race, religion,
or any other factor...should ever be treated differently...we have a long ways to go as a society- I am committed to being a part of the change— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) May 31, 2020
I learned a lot from listening to our Leadership Council today. pic.twitter.com/soLEtIPQXF
— Mario Cristobal (@coach_cristobal) May 29, 2020
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) May 31, 2020
Just a few words and thoughts that life experiences have led me to believe. pic.twitter.com/qCgmZvHkc8
— David Cutcliffe (@DavidCutcliffe) May 31, 2020
I’m deeply saddened by the senseless and tragic murder of George Floyd. My thoughts and prayers are with the Floyd family.
I will lend my voice and stand proudly with those committed to change. #hoUSton— Dana Holgorsen (@Holgorsendana) May 30, 2020
#IChooseGood pic.twitter.com/6AXlg6UFDC
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) May 31, 2020
Ex-officer charged with third-degree murder
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. Two days after Floyd died, the University of Minnesota said it would no longer use Minneapolis police for large events. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck issued a statement regarding Floyd’s death on Friday night and called it “indefensible.”
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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