Amid nationwide protests over systemic racism and police brutality that were brought to light once again by George Floyd’s death last week, Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Tuesday, “This is a societal issue that we all have to join in to correct.”
“I was shocked, sad and angry when I saw what the policemen did to a handcuffed George Floyd on his stomach that led to his death,” Fangio said in a prepared statement during a Zoom conference with the media. “(Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin) should be punished to the fullest extent of the law for the crimes he has been charged with, in addition to being charged with treason for failing to uphold the badge of the uniform he was entrusted with.”
Fangio’s remarks came on the heels of a pair of team meetings earlier in the day in which team president Joe Ellis urged Broncos players to use their platforms to speak out against racism and discrimination, adding that the team had a responsibility to do so.
Fangio said he has the “utmost respect and admiration for police and the job they do in trying circumstances. They allow us to have a great country on a daily basis. The Minnesota cop failed the 99 percent of police that do a great job, and we are all paying a price for that.”
The coach emphasized the circumstance surrounding Floyd’s death is “not a political issue”, and that with sports as a unifying force, he hopes the Broncos and the NFL can help the nation move forward. Broncos safety Kareem Jackson echoed that sentiment.
“It’s obviously a sad time right now with what (the country) going through, but at the end of the day, we have to go out and do the things we have to do to be heard, and try and do it in a peaceful way,” Jackson said. “We have to figure out what we can do, not only as a team but as an organization. How can we go out and impact the Denver community? Maybe we can get out and put together a march as a team, or something like that. We have to get out in the community and be heard.”
