Signing up for change
Players Coalition asks Congress to end qualified immunity for cops
The Players Coalition is tired of hearing the debates. They want Congress to make an actual change now.
On Wednesday morning, the coalition — an independent athlete and coaches organization founded by a pair of NFL players in 2017 in response to the league’s handling of Colin Kaepernick’s protest movement that advocates for social justice and the improvement of racial equality — sent a letter to Congress calling on officials to support a bill that would hold police accountable in instances of police brutality, by eliminating “qualified immunity.”
“We are tired of conversations around police accountability that go nowhere, and we have engaged in too many ‘listening sessions’ where we discuss whether there is a problem of police violence in this country,” the coalition wrote in the letter. The letter was signed by more than 1,100 athletes and coaches and more than 300 front office personnel in the the NFL, NBA and MLB.
“There is a problem,” the letter continued. “The world witnessed it when Officer [Derek] Chauvin murdered George Floyd, and the world is watching it now, as officers deploy enormous force on peaceful protesters like those who were standing outside the White House last week. The time for debate about the unchecked authority of police is over; it is now time for change.”
Qualified immunity is doctrine that was passed by the Supreme Court in 1967, and has since been expanded on, which makes it hard to sue cops and other officials in cases of brutality or other abuse. Victims have to prove police or officials violated “clearly established” law in order for them to be held accountable.
“Qualified immunity has shielded some of the worst law enforcement officials in America,” the letter read. “The list of officers who suffered no consequences because of this doctrine could fill a law book.”
The bill the coalition refers
to was introduced on Thursday by Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Michigan Congressman Justin Amash. The bill, if passed, would get rid of the qualified immunity doctrine.
The representatives introduced the bill following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who were both killed at the hands of police officers. It’s not the only measure being introduced on Capitol Hill. On June 3, California Senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Corey Booker and Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey presented a resolution that would also end qualified immunity.
“When police officers kill an unarmed man, when they beat a woman, or when they shoot a child, the people of this country must have a way to hold them accountable in a court of law,” the letter continued. “And officers must know that if they act in such a manner, there will be repercussions. A legal system that does not provide such a recourse is an illegitimate one.
“In their grief, people have taken to the streets because for too long, their government has failed to protect them. The Courts and elected officials alike have instead shielded people who cause unspeakable harm.”
In 2019 alone, New York City paid out almost $70 million to settle about 1,400 lawsuits filed against the NYPD for alleged misconduct.
Some local NFL players are among those who signed the letter. Pierre Desir, Breshad Perriman and Quinnen Williams of the Jets and Grant Haley and Sean Chandler of the Giants. A number of former players from both teams including Odell Beckham Jr., Carl Banks, Justin Tuck, Amani Toomer, Olivier Vernon, Demario Davis, Kelvin Beachum, Josh McCown and Ty Montgomery also signed.
Other big names on the list include former Yankees CC Sabathia and Cameron Maybin, Tom Brady of the Bucs, Drew Brees of the Saints and former LSU standout Joe Burrow. Prominent NBA coaches Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich also signed on.