Russell Wilson spoke about teammate Michael Bennett’s terrifying encounter with the Las Vegas police following the Mayweather v McGregor fight last month. Wilson was asked his thoughts, courtesy of NFL.com, when he saw the video of Bennett being pinned to the ground and held at gunpoint. Wilson said:
I saw a snippet of the video so to see him on the ground like that. It’s unacceptable based on the situation. Michael is a good guy and he’s a guy who is trying to standup for something good, trying to standup for love and really coming together, not hate. If you know Michael Bennett — he’s a person who loves all people, a person who wants to make the world a better place and he’s addressing an issue that’s right in the heart of the matter of what we’re going through. To see him on the ground like that and to be a person who is standing up for something but also be on the ground like that too is terrifying, it’s devastating to even think about.
Wilson and Benett have known each other for a while and teammates form very close bonds. By all accounts, this is a very accurate depiction of who Michael Bennett is. The incident with the Las Vegas police was abhorrent and should have never happened. But I needed Russ to say more here.
In that moment and interaction with the Vegas police, none of the things Russ mentioned in that statement about Bennett mattered. It is great that Michael Bennett stands up for causes he believes in and works tirelessly to help marginalized people, but that didn’t stop him from being dehumanized. The core issue here is, recognizing black and brown peoples humanity. Whether Bennett is socially conscious or a 4th string DE that is selfish and only cares about himself, nobody should be treated the way Bennett was. Being held at gunpoint, pinned to the ground with a knee to the back, and a police officer threatening to blow your head off, is not the way the citizens of this nation should be treated.
Russ has a platform as the most important player on a highly visible NFL franchise. Now isn’t the time to play it safe. Yes, it was terrifying and devastating to watch. But you need to think about it. This act happened to one of your own. Time to go all in.