Ravens RB Justin Forsett: U.S. must unite in ‘dark time’ after shootings
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Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett called on the United States to unite in the wake of the violence that has shaken the country this month after the shootings in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights and Dallas.
In a first-person blog post, Forsett wrote that he felt compelled to share his thoughts on the issue after seeing other athletes—such as CarmeloAnthony, LeBron James and others—speak out in opposition of the violence.
“I’m tired of seeing dead bodies,” Forsett wrote. “We are seeing it so often, but that doesn’t mean we can become callous to it. As a black male with two black sons, this is scary. My boys are going to grow up and I’m not always going to be with them. I want their encounter with police to be different than what I am seeing on TV right now.
“I see people that look like me dying left and right these past few months—whether that’s by crime or police—and my heart grieves over that…just like it grieves when I see police officers gunned down in acts of senseless violence. I will never get used to this, and I won’t let my heart get callous to it. I want to be part of the solution.”
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Forsett also commented on a national issue when he sought help for the people of Flint, Mich., during the water crisis there. He and former Ravens teammate Torrey Smith helped deliver thousands of dollars worth of water bottles and supplies to the city in February.
Five months later, Forsett is again asking Americans to show compassion to one another.
“This a dark time for our country,” Forsett said. “Let’s rise up together. Let’s serve each other, come together and unite. Let’s go out and be the light that can make a difference.”
