Michael Jordan Breaks His Silence On The Recent Police Shootings

Michael Jordan finally shared his thoughts on the recent shootings of black men and the targeting of police officers in a new statement posted to The Undefeated on Monday.

Michael Jordan Finally Speaks Out On Recent Police Shootings

“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers,” Jordan stated.

“I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us all – are respected and supported,” he wrote.

Jordan has been criticized in the past for staying silent in regards to political matters, while his actions as a community leader were kept under wraps. The NBA legend rarely spoke publicly about social and political issues.

In addition to speaking out against the recent shootings, Jordan has also made considerable donations to organizations that strive to work on change.

“I am making contributions of $1 million each to two organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund,” Jordan noted, adding, “I hope the resources will help both organizations make a positive difference.”

Jordan made the decision to go public with his statement two weeks ago, according to a spokesperson, but delayed making it because he “did not want his announcement to take away the focus on the LGBT community.”