Alouettes’ Wilder takes ‘positive’ stand by joining peaceful protest in Houston
James Wilder knows what it’s like to be racially profiled.
In December 2015, while the running back was part of the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice roster, Wilder said he was racially profiled at a toy store in Florence, Ky. He was accused of shoplifting by an employee, who claimed the player had returned to the store, although at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds his identity could hardly be mistaken. Not to mention Wilder also had a blond patch in his hair at the time.
The store manager placed a 911 call and four white officers were dispatched. According to the manager, Wilder wasn’t caught shoplifting, but when asked to leave caused a major disturbance, calling the manager a racist.
“We (African-americans) are hated in this country. We’re not going to beat around the bush anymore. We’re tired,” Wilder, who signed as a free agent with the Alouettes at the end of January, told Postmedia on Monday. “This goes on with every race. Look at the statistics and the percentages ... it happens to us a lot more than everybody else. For no reason,” he continued. “You see other races doing the same things we’re doing — even worse — and nothing happens. You will never see an African-american yelling at an officer and nothing happens. That’s unheard of in 2020. Other races have that privilege.”
The 28-year-old, a native of Tampa, Fla., has been in Houston, training for the last month in the hopes of a truncated Canadian Football League season eventually starting this September.
In the wake of the death of George Floyd on May 25 by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Wilder felt it was incumbent to participate in two peaceful protests last weekend in Houston.
While civil unrest has flared throughout the U.S. over the last week — after now former police officer Derek Chauvin was seen on graphic footage placing his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes — Wilder said the two 12-hour marches in which he participated were placid. No looting occurred, he said.
Wilder was active over the weekend on Twitter (@Iam_wilder32), suggesting the protests weren’t about race. Rather, they were drawing attention to systematic racism and police brutality. He said he put his “life on the line” against violent protesters, held Floyd’s aunt in his arms while she cried and crossed arms with a white man during the process.
Wilder said he has been called an Uncle Tom by African-americans and has lost 3,000 Twitter followers, although he’s still being followed by nearly 30,000 people. He has joined the Black Lives Matter Houston protest group and another march is scheduled for Tuesday.
Wilder said he originally went out Saturday simply to distribute water to the protesters, but felt compelled to participate.
“It just overwhelmed me,” he said. “I was inspired.
“A lot of things have happened recently, and when those things happen we usually protest. It can get violent and nasty. I wanted to get out there and keep it positive, try to keep it peaceful. These are long days. You’re out in the heat; it’s hot in Texas. But this is bigger than me and football. I’m going to go positively, peacefully and stand for that I believe in.”
On Monday, both the Canadiens and Impact organizations issued statements denouncing Floyd’s death, offering support for peaceful protests and denouncing acts of racism.
“Like everyone, we were horrified by the images of this heinous and despicable crime,” the Canadiens wrote in a bilingual statement. The Impact posted a multilingual Twitter post saying No To Racism with the hashtag Black Lives Matter.
Both the Als and CFL posted earlier statements. The Als, Sunday on Twitter, said their hearts are with their American players and staff, expressing both horror and sadness by the ongoing events.