"Echoes of the Past: John Griffin Reflects on Racial Injustice and Police Brutality in America"

Strategic Insights -

As protests continue nationwide in response to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, John Griffin, one of the original Black 14, is transported back to a painful reminder of a similar era in his own life. Griffin, who was dismissed from the University of Wyoming's football team in 1969 for seeking permission to silently protest treatment from BYU football players, vividly recalls the Watts riots, a series of confrontations between law enforcement and citizens in predominantly black neighborhoods in South-Central Los Angeles in 1965. He also remembers the brutal beating of Rodney King, a black man who endured the violence from four Los Angeles police officers in 1992.

Key Takeaways:

  • John Griffin, a member of the Black 14, was dismissed from the University of Wyoming's football team in 1969 for seeking permission to silently protest treatment from BYU football players.
  • Griffin recalls the Watts riots, a series of confrontations between law enforcement and citizens in predominantly black neighborhoods in South-Central Los Angeles in 1965.
  • Griffin also remembers the brutal beating of Rodney King, a black man who endured the violence from four Los Angeles police officers in 1992.
  • The ongoing protests have also brought conversations about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's silent protests back to the forefront in the sports world.
  • Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback, initially criticized Kaepernick's protests, but later apologized and acknowledged the real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality, and judicial & prison reform.
  • The Black Lives Matter human rights movement has also gone international, with protests breaking out in countries such as England, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Kenya, and Japan.
  • Griffin sees a difference in the current movement, with a mix of people from all walks of life taking part, unlike the predominantly black protests he remembers in the past.

Statistics:

  • Over 109,000 deaths have been attributed to the novel coronavirus in America alone.
  • The Black 14 were kicked off the University of Wyoming's football team 51 years ago, before they even had the chance to ask to wear black armbands during the game against BYU in October 1969.
  • Current protests have reached several cities in Wyoming, including Cheyenne, Casper, Jackson, and Pinedale.
  • Protests have broken out worldwide, including in England, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Kenya, and Japan.

Sources:

  • "Protests continue nationwide in response to deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor," by Davis Potter, Tribune
  • "Colin Kaepernick's silent protests brought to the forefront in sports world," by Davis Potter, Tribune
  • "Drew Brees apologizes for criticizing Colin Kaepernick's protests," by Yahoo Finance
  • "Black Lives Matter human rights movement goes international," by various sources, including BBC News and CNN