Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill took a stand for social justice with a four-word post on X after being arrested for a traffic violation before a game last weekend.
On Monday, Hill posted on his X account tell me He urged his 982,000 followers to “make a difference,” according to Fox News.
Hill later appeared on CNN to expand on the X post.
“I don't really believe in dividing people,” Hill told CNN. “I don't believe in that. It's my purpose in life to bring people together. I do football camps all over the world, I try to bring different people together… because we share the same destiny. We're on this earth together. We have to live together.”
“So when I say, 'Let's make a change,' let's do it together. So Miami Police Department, and all the cops around the world, one cop doesn't make the whole group look bad. Everybody has bad guys. Every team has bad guys. My job is to use my platform and my resources to make sure we work with different police departments,” the player continued.
“We've tried everything. We've protested. We've taken a knee. So what's next? My wife and I are trying to figure out how we can be part of this change. It's important to us. We want to change people's lives, not just in Miami but all over the world,” he said.
The player also claimed that if he wasn't famous he would have been shot dead on the spot or thrown in prison with no way to escape.
Hill was driving his McLaren 720S sports car to the stadium prior to the Dolphins' game against the Jacksonville Jaguars when he was stopped by a Miami-Dade Police officer.
But the confrontation quickly escalated when Hill refused to comply with several commands from the arresting officers: He was quickly dragged through the gull-wing doors, wrestled to the ground, and handcuffed, police body camera footage shows.
Hill was arrested and charged with reckless driving and failure to comply with police orders.
Despite his troubles earlier in the day, Hill played well on Sunday, catching seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown.
The team supported Hill. It is called The police should punish the officers involved in the arrest.
The team released the following statement:
“We are saddened by the overly aggressive and violent actions taken by police officers against Tyreek Hill, Callie Campbell and Jonnu Smith prior to yesterday's game,” the team said. “It is infuriating and heartbreaking to see unnecessary force and hostility used against these players by the same people we trust to protect our community. But it also serves as a reminder that situations like this do not always end peacefully, and we are grateful that this time it did. The question, 'What if I wasn't Tyreek Hill?' will remain with a resonating jolt.
“We are proud to have a strong and successful relationship with the Miami-Dade Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, and know that the vast majority of our officers serve our community with the highest integrity and a desire to protect all citizens. However, as is perfectly demonstrated in the video released tonight, some officers mistake their responsibility and duty to serve for misguided power. While we commend MDPD for taking the appropriate and necessary steps to swiftly release this footage, we urge them to take equally swift and strong action against any officers involved in such despicable conduct.”
“We stand with Tyreek and our players as they strive to use their platform and this situation to make a positive impact in their community. We have always believed that football has the unique power to bring people together, and we remain hopeful that through the collaborative efforts of our players, organizations and community partners, we can create lasting change.”
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