Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman explains why he stands by that All Lives Matter (original) (raw)
Count Richard Sherman in the controversial “All Lives Matter” crowd.
The Seattle Seahawks corner made that clear on Tuesday, in an interview on The Undefeated, and spent Wednesday drawing heat for those comments. He said that it’s “hard” for him to form an opinion on Black Lives Matter.
“I stand by what I said that All Lives Matter and that we are human beings,” he told The Undefeated. “And speaking to police, I want African-Americans and everybody else treated decently. I want them treated like human beings. And I also want the police treated like human beings. I don’t want police officers just getting knocked off in the street who haven’t done anything wrong.
“Those are innocent lives.”
A sign that reads ‘ALL LIVES MATTER’ is hung from a building.
Sherman, who has never been shy to share his opinion on any matter, seemed to place blame on the Black Lives Matter movement itself when he explained why he didn’t back it. While the message and mission of the movement are largely clear in 2016, some choose to lump those who advocate police violence in with Black Lives Matter.
That doesn’t sit well with Sherman.
“It’s hard to formulate an opinion and generalize, because they have several different messages,” he said. “Some of them are peaceful and understandable and some of them are very radical and hard to support. Any time you see people who are saying, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ and then saying it’s time to kill police, then it is difficult to stand behind that logic. They are generalizing police just like they are asking police not to generalize us. It is very hypocritical. So, in that respect, I find it difficult to fully support that movement.”
Sherman’s comments drew instant criticism on social media, with many lumping him in with Charles Barkley, and suggesting that money and fame had gotten to him. But Sherman responded to those comments on Twitter.
“I hate when ppl forget I have lived those circumstances,” he tweeted. “And yes I did do it so yes I believe others can.”
He added that he was never worried about the systemic issues of government, and seemed to hint that the black community spent too much time worrying about that.
People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest.
“no I didn’t acknowledge them or allow them to stop me,” he tweeted when systemic circumstances were mentioned. “But maybe I should have complained about them and let them stop me.”
None of this means that Sherman does not plan — or hope — to advocate for an end to violence in this nation. Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and a host of NBA players are now actively pushing for peace, and Sherman told The Undefeated that he would join that cause if the league asked for NFL support — although he did stress that he’d have to trust the message.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “It would have to be a united message. It would have to be something that I could stand behind. I won’t stand behind a message I didn’t believe.”
Originally Published: July 27, 2016 at 1:36 PM EDT