Of all the Denver Broncos players and coaches who spoke during a day of talks about social justice, police shootings and the potential work players and the team could do in the community, Melvin Gordon perhaps resonated most deeply.
Gordon, from Kenosha, Wisconsin, rose at a full team reunion Thursday to share his feelings about Jacob Blake’s shooting, and his teammates said Gordon’s words will stay a long time. in memories.
“When Melvin got up, everyone in the room knew this was a serious topic, that we were going to have a serious conversation, but when Melvin got up there it hit so much closer to home than , I think, people expected it. Broncos security Justin Simmons said Friday. “… For Melvin to get up there and say maybe two words and choke and be moved, the atmosphere in the room has just changed. “
Blake, a black man, was shot seven times by police in Kenosha on Sunday as he tried to enter through the driver’s side door of his vehicle with three of his children inside. The video of the shoot was posted on social networks.
The Broncos were one of many teams that canceled practices and other football activities on Thursday to instead meet as a group to discuss their feelings in the wake of violent police incidents involving George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Blake. The players also discussed what they could do in Denver as well as in some of their home communities to tackle racial injustice.
Broncos coach Vic Fangio said conversations lasted for several hours and included a full team reunion as well as players and coaches meeting in small groups throughout the day. Gordon is still getting to know many of his new teammates, having signed as a free agent during the offseason.
“It was tough overall,” Gordon said, speaking to his new teammates. “… I – whenever Kenosha or whatever comes up and I keep seeing it over and over, I just get moved.” It can happen in anyone’s community. We have to be there for each other. ”
Gordon called Blake’s shooting “disgusting” and said several of his family and friends took part in a demonstration in Kenosha last week on the same night that Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, allegedly shot three people, in killing two, during these demonstrations.
“It was just heartbreaking … to see a kid in our community getting shot in the street, a kid being offered water soon after … just sad to see,” Gordon said. . “And the fact that when you post something or post something out there, people are justifying their actions, justifying why it’s okay to shoot someone seven times in the back. For me, it’s just sad.
Gordon has said he hopes to expand the work he is already doing in Kenosha during the offseason. When asked on Friday what he would say to those who don’t understand why he and others consider these questions so important, Gordon replied: “Look at him like he’s your husband, your brother, whatever you wanted, get shot in the back., get shot in the street or have your throat stomped on. Just watch from there. … just try to educate yourself, try to educate yourself in the best possible way or find someone who can express it in a way You can understand. “
.
