Seahawks’ Richard Sherman: Latest police shootings shows message is being ignored

RENTON – A fed up Richard Sherman delivered a message Wednesday about the need for change in the wake of two more fatal shootings of African Americans by police officers.

The Seahawks cornerback began his weekly press conference by mentioning Seattle’s Week-3 opponent, San Francisco, and said he would not take any questions. Instead, he talked about how the latest police shootings – of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Scott in Charlotte, N.C., whom he referenced but did not mention by name – are the types of injustices that have led NFL players to take a stand with pregame protests or demonstrations.

Sherman expressed his frustration that their messages are not getting across.

“Whether they’re taking a knee or whether they’re locking arms, they’re trying to bring people together and unite them for a cause,” he said. “I think the last couple days, a couple more guys have gotten shot and killed in the middle of the street. More videos have come out of guys getting killed, and I think people are still missing the point. The reason these guys are kneeling, the reason we’re locking arms is to bring people together, to make people aware that this is not right. It’s not right for people to get killed in the street.”

As has been the case with several previous police shootings of black men, Crutcher was unarmed (Scott’s family says he was as well, while officers say he brandished a gun). Sherman referenced that common thread while discussing work he does with youth in the community.

“I go out there and try to help kids and try to encourage them to be better and to aspire to more, and when you tell a kid, ‘When you’re dealing with police, just put your hands up and comply with everything,’ and there’s still a chance of them getting shot and no repercussions for anyone, that’s an unfortunate time to be living. That’s an unfortunate place to be in,” he said.

“There’s not a lot you can tell a kid. There’s not a lot you can … say to inspire a person when you say, ‘Hey, we need black fathers to be in the community to stay there for your kids.’ But they’re getting killed in the street for nothing, for putting their hands on their cars. And I think that’s the unfortunate part, that’s the unfortunate place that we’re living in, and something needs to be done.”

Here is the full text of Sherman’s message:

So today, obviously we’re playing San Fran and they’re a great opponent. They’ve got some weapons: Torrey Smith, Carlos Hyde. They’re running Chip Kelly’s offense. They do a great job. They’ve been getting yards, moving the ball, scoring points. But I’m not going to answer any questions today and it’s no offense to you guys, but I think the state of things in the world today is very interesting.

I think you have players that are trying to take a stand and trying to be aware of social issue and try to make a stand and increase people’s awareness and put a spotlight on it and they’re being ignored. Whether they’re taking a knee or whether they’re locking arms, they’re trying to bring people together and unite them for a cause. I think the last couple days a couple more guys have gotten shot and killed in the middle of the street. More videos have come out of guys getting killed, and I think people are still missing the point. The reason these guys are kneeling, the reason we’re locking arms is to bring people together to make people aware that this is not right. It’s not right for people to get killed in the street.

I do a lot of community service. I go out there and try to help kids and try to encourage them to be better and to aspire to more. And when you tell a kid, “When you’re dealing with police, just put your hands up and comply with everything,” and there’s still a chance of them getting shot and no repercussions for anyone, that’s an unfortunate time to be living. That’s an unfortunate place to be in. There’s not a lot you can tell a kid. There’s not a lot you can try to inspire, say to inspire a person when you say, “Hey, we need black fathers to be in the community to stay there for your kids.” But they’re getting killed in the street for nothing, for putting their hands on their cars. And I think that’s the unfortunate part, that’s the unfortunate place that we’re living in, and something needs to be done.

And so when a guy takes a knee, you can ignore it. You can say he’s not being patriotic, he’s not honoring the flag. I’m doing none of those things. I’m saying it straight up. This is wrong and we need to do something. So thank you guys, have a blessed day.