Written by Dan Devine at YahooSports.com
Two days after a black Charlotte police officer shot and killed 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, Charlotte Hornets owner and basketball legend Michael Jordan issued a statement urging “peaceful demonstration and conversation” following nights marked by violence and unrest in which hundreds have taken to the streets to protest thegrowing number of fatal shootings of black men across the United States by members of law enforcement.
Here’s Jordan’s statement, as released by the Hornets:
“First, I want to express my condolences to the Scott family for their loss. I also wish for a full recovery to those who have been injured.
“In light of the tragic events of the past three days, it is more important than ever that we restore calm and come together, as a community, in peaceful demonstration and conversation, and in constructive and non-violent ways. As part of the fabric of Charlotte, the Hornets organization is committed to working with civic leaders, our elected leaders and law enforcement to foster more trust, transparency and understanding so we can heal and grow together as a community.”
The statement comes nearly two months after Jordan wrote an essay responding to nationwide unrest stemming from multiple instances in which police shot and killedblack men and officers were shot and killed.
“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,” wrote Jordan, who also contributed $1 million each to two organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, to help “build trust and respect between communities and law enforcement.”
Fellow NBA legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson also offered his thoughts via Twitter.
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