Franklin, Clark express concerns in aftermath of Floyd death
Penn State’s James Franklin and Alvernia’s Ralph Clark joined the chorus of college football coaches to speak out against racism after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Monday.
Franklin and Clark, who are both African-American, posted their thoughts on social media, Franklin on Saturday and Clark on Friday.
“My heart is broken,” Franklin wrote, “my beliefs have been challenged and my emotions are raw. These senseless deaths are a symptom of a larger problem and in moments like this, silence is deafening indifference.”
Franklin, who has two preteen daughters, and Clark, who has three sons, made references to the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky. But the tipping point for the football coaches was what happened to the unarmed and handcuffed Floyd, who died Monday after a since-arrested police officer kept his knee on his neck
for almost nine minutes.
“I am a proud black man of African descent,” Clark wrote. “I am a husband. I am a father of three beautiful sons. I am also hurting. I’m angry. I’m sad. I’m frustrated. I’m disgusted.
“I’m disappointed as another brother was murdered in the streets by those we entrust to serve and protect us.”
Franklin defended Penn State safety Jonathan Sutherland, who was criticized last October by an elderly fan for wearing dreadlocks.
“It’s not only the tragic deaths of these individuals the last few weeks,” Franklin wrote. “It’s the smothering of hope and the suffocation of a dream that left me feeling so raw.
“These weren’t just people of color. These were Americans. These were citizens of our country and if we are to take a step forward, we cannot leave them behind.”
Clark said that his wife “can’t stop crying” since Floyd’s death. He said his youngest son asked him, ‘Daddy, why are they on that man like that?’ His oldest son recently received his driver’s license, which moved Clark to issue a warning.
“Having to be somber and explain to your new driver how to stay alive if and when he’s pulled over,” Clark wrote, “is a heavy weight to bear.”
Franklin said he worries about the “health and wellbeing” of all the players on the Penn State roster, especially the African-Americans.
“These young men are future doctors, teachers, broadcasters, lawyers, athletes, fathers and more,” he said. “The idea they can have their lives stolen from them before they get a chance to leave their mark on the world is unconscionable.”
Clark made a plea to his friends who are not AfricanAmerican.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” he wrote. “We don’t need your sympathy. We don’t need your pat on the back, We don’t really need your words of support, although they’re very much appreciated. We need your action.
“If we march we need you beside us, arms locked. If we kneel, we need you kneeling with us. If we vote, we need you voting with us. If you witness, we need you to stop watching and start acting. We cannot do this alone.”