At a Wednesday evening press conference, Carolina Panthers quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton addressed the volatile climate in Charlotte.
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The 27-year-old also took to Instagram shortly after the 12-minute press conference to show support of Colin Kaepernick, and expanded on his thoughts about social justice.
Authorities had to use tear gas to disperse the protests in North Carolina’s largest city, which joins Milwaukee, Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri, on the list of US cities that erupted in violence over the death of black men at the hands of police.
“Now, that’s still messed up”, he clarified. “Given my size, I preferred to take my chances by going against guys up the field, and I wasn’t just trying to sit back there and let all of those 330 pounders crush me”.
Although Newton emphasized the need for “everybody holding each other accountable and policing yourselves”, he expressed dismay over how police shootings of African-Americans have been handled. “How would I be if they came home one day and there’s no more daddy?”
Newton’s city was on edge last night, with protestors squaring off against police officers, looting a Wal-Mart and stopping traffic on Interstate 85 when trucks were blocked by protestors and the contents were set on fire in the middle of the highway, as others threw rocks at passing vehicles.
Newton understood the shooting in Charlotte would become part of the national narrative on police shootings of black men. “My heart mourns for that family, but I just don’t know enough information at this specific time”. “Not that we liked it, but everybody knew we were free game”. It’s the way they’re being treated after they happen.
“The police brutality is … it’s embarrassing to even talk about”, he said.
He continued, “Do I think it’s right? No”.
“It’s not that I can and I can’t, it’s just I’m always going to be true to who I am, right?”
“When you get a person that’s doing unjust things or killing an innocent person or killing fathers, or killing people who have actual families, that’s real”.
Carolina Head Coach Ron Rivera was frustrated that members of his team were put in the position to try and direct the city on how to move forward. “He was kind of that shiny new toy: African-American quarterback, he had tattoos, everybody embraced him”. Rivera said. “I’m not sure if what happened last night was the right way”.
Rivera has steered clear of mixing politics and sports in the past.
The picture immediately went viral with most people assuming that Kaepernick gave Newton a cold stare because he didn’t like the fact that Newton wasn’t speaking up for racial inequality. LeBron James deflected talk of race and inequality early in his career, but has more recently been open about confronting controversial topics.
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“We all are different and have the right to fill anyway we want to”. I see a lot of memes and even articles about CamvsKap; are they Ok? “Makes it hard not to stand up!”
