’Melo praises Jordan for his dual donation
Legend gives $1M each to NAACP & police group
Michael Jordan, who always avoided social stands like the plague, just gave $2 million of his own money to try and help salve the strained relationship between black communities and police forces. And Carmelo Anthony took time during Monday’s town hall meeting in Los Angeles to praise Jordan for getting involved.
“That’s big. Thats’s MJ. That’s Michael Jordan. As African-Americans, that’s who we look up to. He’s a great voice with a great platform. I’m just glad that he came out now and he used it at this time with everything going on,’’ Anthony told The Undefeated. “To answer your question about the Michael Jordan thing, it was brilliant and about time. ... He is our face.”
But not voice. While Anthony has been socially conscious and begged his fellow athletes to come out and be the same, Jordan has always declined comment on social-justice issues so as to avoid offending either side of the aisle — or any paying customers.
The former Bulls star’s longtime political and social-justice agnosticism — often encapsulated by his quip, “Republicans buy sneakers, too” — made an ul- tra-rare dive into current events Monday with his seven-figure statement.
“I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent,” Jordan wrote in a letter published by The Undefeated. “We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers — who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all — are respected and supported.”
The NBA legend acknowledged his fame and fortune have made his experiences with police smoother than they are for “many people of color,” and personalized the topic by referring to his father’s shooting death in a 1993 carjacking.
Jordan, the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, pledged $1 million each to the Institute for Community-Police Relations (an organization newly established by the International Association of Chiefs of Police) and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
“Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organizations make a positive difference,” Jordan said. “If we all work together, we can foster greater understanding, positive change and create a more peaceful world for ourselves, our children, our families and our communities.”