Davis seeks ‘solutions’ amid Floyd protests
LAS VEGAS >> Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke out on the racial tensions gripping the country and professed to be already moving the conversation forward with Las Vegas officials.
Davis issued the following statement Sunday on Twitter as protests throughout the country continued after the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis:
“To Watch a Man Be Murdered By A Uniformed Police Officer Kneeling On The Man’s Throat For 9 Minutes While 3 Uniformed Police Officers Either Assisted Or Stood By Watching Is Disturbing Is Disturbing in Too Many Ways. To Be Honest I’m Surprised That The Resulting Violence Hasn’t Been Much Worse.
“Emotions Are High. The Temperature Is Hot. And
There’s Static In The Air. But Burning Your Brother’s House Down Ultimately is Not The Answer. Not Only Do We Have To Tell People There Is Something Wrong. We Have To Come Up With Solutions. That’s The Challenge In Front Of Us. Not Only As Americans. But As Human Beings.”
Davis spoke with ESPN later on Sunday night and reported that he already has had conversations with Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo.
“I want to get together with players, coaches and community leaders to get the conversation going, to discuss how to go forward,” Davis said. “The solutions start here at the local level, with the attorneygeneral, the sheriff and other community leaders to open up lines of communication. That’s the beginning.
“Like I said in my statement, not only do we have to tell people there’s something wrong, we have to come up with solutions—as Americans and human beings. I’m trying to be posi- tive but truthful .”
Floyd, who was black, died after Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, kneeled on his neck for several minutes. Chauvin was fired Tuesday and charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers also were fired but have not been charged.
Davis has not shied away from commenting on social issues in the past. In September 2017, at the height of players protesting police brutality by taking a knee during the nation anthem, Davis told ESPN that he would no longer ask his players to not protest while in uniform. “The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class,” Davis said at the time. “Do it with pride.”
Davis said he would continue to support Raiders players.
“If they have something to say, I’ll stand beside them,” Davis added Sunday. “I won’t stand behind them. I’ll stand beside them. And if there’s something I don’t know, I’m happy to listen to them.We’vegottofindasolution.”