The NFL said its plans are for the game to be played as scheduled, although it will continue to monitor the ongoing violent protests that have gripped Charlotte.
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As unrest continues in Charlotte after yet another police-involved shooting, there were reports earlier on Thursday indicating that the National Football League and the Carolina Panthers were considering moving Sunday’s game from Charlotte (more on that here).
The protests moved within a few blocks of the stadium on Wednesday night, turning violent with gunshots, vandalism and police setting off tear gas bombs in an attempt to break up the protestors.
Pat McCrory had declared a state of emergency in Charlotte on Wednesday night amid the intense coverage of activity downtown.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said he would prefer to play the game as scheduled, saying “I think it would be good for the city”. Family members, however, said Scott was disabled and was reading a book while waiting to pick up his son from the school bus.
In a press conference Friday morning, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said the department will have “adequate resources” to keep the city safe during Sunday’s game. “I also wish for a full recovery to those who have been injured”, Jordan said in a statement.
Decker says that he’ll “be ready to go” against the Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City. “I’m a firm believer of doing the right thing”, Newton said. “They go anywhere and who knows what violence is going to happen toward them?” “This is a tough time in our community and our city, and we need something that’s going to bring people together with all that’s going on right now”.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been kneeling during the anthem for the past month as a protest against social injustice in the United States.
According to The Charlotte Observer, the NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the businesses and venues damaged by protesters Wednesday, smashing windows in the NASCAR Tower office building, which also houses the Hall of Fame. For anybody that’s out there listening, I just hope people realize that’s not the answer. And I think last night some agitators, some people who had their own agenda, their own narrative, took over and created a situation that wasn’t Charlotte. They’ve averaged 42 points per game in last three home games, two of those being playoff outings.
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The shooting of Scott comes in the wake of the ongoing social-injustice protest being conducted by National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick. “We all have to hold each other accountable”. If Carolina establishes a ground game with its backup backs and quarterback Cam Newton, the Vikings will have to commit more bodies to the box, opening up even more room to attack a weaker secondary.
