Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Pledges $1 Million To Improve Police Training, Address Systematic Racism
Jun 3, 2020, 11:39 AM | Updated: 11:45 am
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said that he is donating $1 million to improve police training and address systematic racism.
The Cowboys QB announced his donation in a four-page post via Instagram on Wednesday, June 3.
“I plan to take action and pledge $1,000,000 to improve our police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy in our country,” Prescott wrote.
View this post on Instagram
“As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you! I have viewed these protests and riots in our streets as a form of strength and an attempt to show we as black people have rights that aren’t perceived equally as our counterparts,” wrote Prescott. “We will clean our streets and our communities, not only of the looting and violence, but, most importantly, the racism, racial profiling, and hate!”
The quarterback also addressed police officers in his post.
“To the men and women that police our streets, I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving our communities. When you chose to wear a badge of a police officer, you pledged to PROTECT life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations,” Prescott wrote.”How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your ranks don’t abide by it? You need to hold your own accountable! Each of you are as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide.”
Prescott’s pledge and social media post came just over a week after George Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a white police officer (Chauvin) knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
The Dallas signal-caller is scheduled to make nearly $32 million for the 2020 season.
NFL Quarterback Speak Out Against Racial Injustice
Fellow NFL quarterbacks have also spoken out against racial injustice in recent days including:
- Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans)
- Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Andy Dalton (Dallas Cowboys)
Tom Brady posted this today on his Instagram story, calling for justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death… pic.twitter.com/tu7j8JcfFz
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) May 29, 2020
“All I know if that the institutional racism in this country breaks my heart and needs to stop,” Wentz wrote in a social media post.
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) May 28, 2020
“The black community needs our help,” Burrow tweeted. “They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen, and speak. This isn’t politics. This is human rights.”
The black community needs our help. They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen, and speak. This isn’t politics. This is human rights.
— Joey Burrow (@Joe_Burrow10) May 29, 2020
“Everyone deserves to feel safe & protected in their communities,” Tannehill posted. “It’s on us to use our voices and actions to make that happen. What happened is completely unacceptable.”
Everyone deserves to feel safe & protected in their communities…it’s on us to use our voices and actions to make that happen.
What happened is completely unacceptable.#JusticeForFloyd pic.twitter.com/XqAUYRBY1V
— Ryan Tannehill (@ryantannehill1) May 27, 2020
Carr said that his initial thoughts after seeing video of Floyd’s death were “disgusted, mad, and heart-broken.”
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) May 29, 2020
“These racist acts are inexcusable and horrific,” tweeted Dalton.
— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) May 30, 2020