Current:Home > ContactOpinion: Tyreek Hill is an imperfect vessel who is perfect for this moment-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Opinion: Tyreek Hill is an imperfect vessel who is perfect for this moment
lotradecoin token View Date:2024-12-26 05:01:03
Pay close to attention to one particular part of the statement from one of Tyreek Hill's lawyers released on Monday. It says a great deal. It says everything.
"It is already clear that well before this incident, Miami-Dade County should have fired Officer (Danny) Torres," part of the statement read. "Instead, the County repeatedly returned Officer Torres to the street permitting him to use his police authority to terrorize people."
"Had officers not realized that they were interacting with Tyreek Hill – a well-known, beloved, educated, and seemingly wealthy black man – this traffic stop would likely have ended with the driver in jail, in the hospital, or like George Floyd, dead," the statement added.
Or like George Floyd, dead.
Hill invoking Floyd is no small thing. This isn't just attorneys readying for a lawsuit. This is something much deeper. First, it's another stark acknowledgement by Hill that getting stopped by police could have gone horribly wrong if he wasn't a star.
Most of all, with this statement, and the hiring of some impressive legal firepower, Hill is signaling he's preparing for a larger fight. Hill wants to become one of the leading edges in the battle to reform police culture.
We haven't seen an NFL player take a public stance this aggressive since Colin Kaepernick.
Hill was detained earlier this month during a traffic stop and since then he's addressed police abuse. But this move is an entirely different level of speaking out. It enters into the realm of hardcore activism. Particularly since his legal team now includes a former federal prosecutor as well as a civil rights attorney who worked on Floyd’s case.
But we also have to acknowledge that this is a complex discussion, because Hill isn't like Kaepernick in one significant way. There were no controversies about Kaepernick's past. Sure, people tried to make up things about Kaepernick, but he was, and is, an extremely decent man. He was, and is, perfect for the fight.
Hill's past is more problematic and this is where things get nuanced and problematic. He's been accused of incidents of domestic violence, including a truly ugly case when Hill was in college.
None of this is good. None of it should be buried or ignored, either.
And nothing Hill did in the past excuses the behavior of the officers. But that past is always brought up by the extreme right and people who believe police should be able to do whatever the hell they want. They latch onto it to try and weaken his police reform message. This is a constant theme on social media.
It's important to deal with this substantial elephant in the room. Put it all up front and on the table. While Hill's past actions are bad, really bad, they don't detract from Hill's mission, which is historic and noble.
Make no mistake about it: Hill can make impactful change. This isn't hyperbole. He's one of the most powerful people in one of the most powerful businesses in America. He can utilize financial and political power in ways most people cannot. Other players inside and outside of the NFL will listen to him. Some politicians will.
One of the biggest things Hill can do is provide a permission structure to other athletes to join the fight. That's what Kaepernick did.
Hill seems to understand all of this. That's what the statement he released means more than anything. It's not just that he's ready to join the fight. He seems to understand what exactly joining the fight means.
"Miami Dolphins’ superstar Tyreek Hill said that he will speak for all people in a broad fight against national police misconduct," another part of the statement read.
"Hill is adamant that his legal team will ensure that the voices of people who have long been ignored or silenced on the issue of police reform will finally be heard."
Yes, Hill is far from perfect. But he's perfect for this moment.
veryGood! (6879)
Related
- 'Alien: Romulus' movie review: Familiar sci-fi squirms get a sheen of freshness
- Israel may uproot ancient Christian mosaic near Armageddon. Where it could go next sparks outcry
- New McDonald's meal drops today: The 'As Featured In Meal' highlights 'Loki' Season 2
- Facial recognition? How about tail recognition? Identifying individual humpback whales online
- 'RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars': Premiere date, cast, where to watch and stream
- Social Security isn't enough for a comfortable retirement. What about these options?
- Nestlé recalls Toll House cookie dough bars because they may contain wood fragments
- Hawaii wildfires continue to burn in the Upcountry Maui town of Kula: We're still on edge
- A slain teacher loved attending summer camp. His mom is working to give kids the same opportunity
- Heavy rains trigger floods and landslides in India’s Himalayan region, leaving at least 48 dead
Ranking
- CPI report for July is out: What does latest data mean for the US economy?
- Body of man found floating in Colorado River in western Arizona identified
- Andy Taylor of Duran Duran says prostate cancer treatment will 'extend my life for five years'
- Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews named president of CBS News
- Anchorage police shoot, kill teenage girl who had knife; 6th police shooting in 3 months
- 7-year-old South Carolina girl hit by stray shotgun pellet; father and son charged
- Wisconsin man missing 9 months since attempted traffic stop found dead in abandoned home
- Videos put scrutiny on downed power lines as possible cause of deadly Maui wildfires
Recommendation
-
TikToker Nicole Renard Warren Claps Back Over Viral Firework Display at Baby’s Sex Reveal
-
Pacific Northwest heat wave could break temperature records through Thursday
-
Homeowners were having issues with hot water tank before deadly blast in Pennsylvania, officials say
-
Trump arraignment on Georgia charges will be in a court that allows cameras — unlike his other 3 indictments
-
The Notebook Actress Gena Rowlands Dead at 94
-
YouTube to remove content promoting harmful, ineffective cancer treatments
-
Capture the best candid shots with bargains on Nikon cameras at B&H
-
Powerball jackpot reaches $236 million. See winning numbers for Aug. 14 drawing.