Chiefs players, coaches sign letter asking Congress to end immunity for police
Six Chiefs players and two assistant coaches were among the sports figures who are asking Congress to pass legislation aimed at ending protection for police officers who kill or injure citizens.
More than 1,400 current and former athletes, coaches and front office members signed a letter asking for passage of the Amash-Pressley Ending Qualified Immunity Act.
The Players Coalition, which aims to “end social injustices and racial inequality so future generations have opportunity to thrive without barriers,” shared the letter on Twitter. The Players Coalition was founded in 2017 by former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin and Saints defensive back Malcolm Jenkins.
In its letter, the Players Coalition wrote: “It is time for Congress to eliminate qualified immunity and it can do so by passing the Amash-Pressley Bill. When police officers kill an unarmed man, when they beat a woman, or when they shoot a child, the people of this country must have a way to hold them accountable in a court of law. And officers must know that if they act in such a manner, there will be repercussions. A legal system that does not provide such a recourse is an illegitimate one. In their grief, people have taken to the streets because for too long, their government has failed to protect them. The Courts and elected officials alike have instead shielded people who caused unspeakable harm. Congress must not be complicit in these injustices, and it should take this important step to show that law enforcement abuse will not be tolerated.”
Six current Chiefs players signed the letter: cornerback Antonio Hamilton, defensive end Alex Okafor, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, defensive tackle Mike Pennel, cornerback Armani Watts and linebacker Damien Wilson.
At least nine former Chiefs players also added their names: Shawn Barber, Dwayne Bowe, Tony Gonzalez, Steven Nelson, Ron Parker, Ryan Sims, Alex Smith, Jan Stenerud and Patrick Surtain.
Chiefs assistant coaches Eric Bieniemy and Mike Kafka signed it as well.
Former K-State football player Cornelius Lucas and former Kansas football player Chris Harris, Jr., also signed the letter.
Although the letter was signed mostly by NFL players, some from baseball and basketball added their names.
That includes Chris Archer, Giancarlo Stanton, Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich.
Last week, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive back Tyrann Mathieu recorded a video about racial injustice.
