The world was shocked Friday night when the Memphis Tenn. Police Department released footage of its officers beating resident Tyre Nichols to death after an unjustified traffic stop.
The incident was a reminder of what Black athletes deal with in America on a day-to-day basis. The NFL released a statement on the tragic incident on Saturday:
Statement from the NFL regarding the death of Tyre Nichols. pic.twitter.com/KuZDQ7vEyn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 28, 2023
“The NFL mourns the tragic and senseless death of Tyre Nichols, and we send our condolences to his loved ones and the Memphis community. We remain deeply committed to combating the injustices and inequities that plague our society and will continue to work with our social justice partners to support our communities and fight for change.
The NFL wasn’t alone in releasing a statement about Nichols’ death. On Thursday night, the NBA also voiced its support for the memory of Nichols and his surviving friends and family:
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2023
“The images of Tyre Nichols’ life needlessly cut short are horrifying. While there have been steps toward accountability in this instance, the NBA family remains committed to partnering with advocates, policymakers and law enforcement to work toward solutions to the issues we continue to face. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr. Nichols, the entire Memphis community and those who are affected by these tragic images and loss,” the statement read.
