Derek Jeter, current Miami Marlins CEO and former Yankees captain, has released a statement following the death of George Floyd and as protests continue across the country.
On May 25, Floyd, a 46-year old black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck on for several minutes while handcuffed and unarmed.
The four police officers who were at the scene have been fired. Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder.
The deaths of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have set in motion days of unrest across the United States.
Jeter has added his name to the growing list of prominent sports personalities, athletes, and executives to speak on the protests.
Though some demonstrations have turned violent, Jeter said it was “encouraging” to see people around the world “speaking out and protesting.”
Here is Jeter’s full statement, which he shared on social media:
I am deeply saddened by the death of George Floyd and feel the pain and outrage it has caused his family and people throughout the world, Jeter said. This is a narrative that has happened far too often with us as people of color. It is time for racial hatred to end and to be unquestionably recognized and responded to with severe punishment.
It’s encouraging to see people of all colors around the world speaking out and protesting another human tragedy that has too often been the death of a black person. No one should be excused from acts of racial hatred. Please do not allow anyone to demonize those who are standing up against these acts.
I hope that my children and nephews don’t have to live in a society where people are unjustly treated because of the color of their skin.
I hope that their white friends grow up to recognize that it is not only enough to verbalize their non-racist views, but also to participate at an active level to eradicate racism.
I hope we can all denounce the insidious signs of racial hatred and take action as human beings.
Jeter defended the right to protest in the past when asked about athletes kneeling during the national anthem in 2017.
“They’re focused so much on the fact that they are kneeling as opposed to what they’re kneeling for,” he said at the time, per Christian Red of the New York Daily News. “Peaceful protests are fine. You have your right to voice your opinion. As long as it’s a peaceful protest, everyone should be fine with that.”
