Anquan Boldin and other NFL players were at Capital Hill Thursday to speak to Congress about police killings in African-American communities.
Boldin isn’t a rookie to this forum, having been a part of a group that met with lawmakers last year as well.
On Thursday, he spoke up for those in his community who feel their voices are not being heard.
“The community I come from wants and needs to know that they are being heard,” Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin said during a forum held Thursday on Capitol Hill (h/t Travis Waldron of The Huffington Post). “We want to make sure that you, that those in position to bring positive change, understand the things that we as an African-American community are going through. We certainly do not feel that we’re being heard right now right now, especially when it comes to law enforcement and the way we are being policed. Our neighborhoods are feeling hurt, and they want to see change.”
Boldin also has personal experience in this matter, as his cousin, Corey Jones, was shot and killed by a police officer in 2015.
“I wish I could tell you Corey’s story was unique,” the wide receiver said. “I wish Corey hadn’t died in the first place. As a matter of fact, I wish I wasn’t here at all talking to you about him at all. But I am.”
As noted by Waldron, “Jones was one of 222 black men killed during incidents with police officers in 2016,” per the Washington Post.
Boldin continued:
“We want to see changes in policy. We want to know that justice will be served for all.
“These issues are consistently pushed to the political back burner,” he said. “I believe that by working together, we can not only move it to the political forefront, but we can make measurable, meaningful and sustainable change in our communities.”
As part of their efforts, the players asked Congress to make legislation that would help in their communities a priority. Namely, per Waldron, they asked that the Fair Chance Act and the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act would be pushed by lawmakers.