The sports icon has penned a powerful op-ed for The Undefeated, speaking out in support of both the
African-American community and U.S. police officers.
"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. I grieve with the families who have lost loved
ones, as I know their pain all too well," he writes.
"I was raised by
parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or
background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial
tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late, 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 every day to protect us all are
respected and supported."
The 53-year-old went on
to share that he would be making two separate $1 million contributions to the
International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for
Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
"Although I know
these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the
resources will help both organizations make a positive difference," he
writes.
Jordan
is the latest high-profile star to speak out on the growing #BlackLivesMatter
movement. Earlier this month, Kim Kardashian penned a blog post urging fans to
"peacefully use the power of our voices."
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