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Brandon Marshall, more athletes address Terence Crutcher killing

Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall discussed his ongoing protest of racial injustice, and the recent killing of Terence Crutcher by police.
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Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall discussed on Tuesday his ongoing protest of racial injustice and the recent killing of Terence Crutcher by police.

Crutcher, an unarmed black man, was shot and killed by police in Tulsa, Okla., last week. Police released footage of the killing this week. 

“I did see the Terence Crutcher video,” Marshall told Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post. “It’s very saddening, especially to hear someone in the helicopter say, ‘That looks like a bad dude.’ How does that look like a bad dude? You’re way up in the air. That’s something that’s disturbing, but that’s exactly the reason we’re protesting.”

Marshall has been one of several NFL players choosing to kneel before games during the playing of the national anthem, joining 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in protesting police violence and racial inequality in America. He has lost multiple sponsorships over his decision to stage a demonstration. 

“One thing I have an issue with is people are really, extremely (ticked off) and mad about us kneeling and protesting peacefully,” he continued. “How come they don’t have that same type of anger toward the situations that are going on? I think everybody needs to check themselves.”

49ers safety Eric Reid, who has knelt alongside his teammate Kaepernick during the national anthem, also expressed frustration at Crutcher’s death on Twitter.

Kaepernick commented on Crutcher to reporters as well: “They shot and killed a man and walked around like it wasn't a human being.”

Stars from other sports have also started chiming in on the shooting. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook tweeted about Crutcher on Tuesday night.

Bulls guard Dwyane Wade took to Instagram to write, “We must come together MORE! We must show our strength as a Black Community MORE! Or we will continue to wake up to stories of US being shot down like WE don't matter. We must show that we matter to each other MORE! We must all do MORE!#TERENCECRUTCHER #WEAREMORE”