Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon has a special connection to Kenosha, Wisconsin, so one could only image how he is feeling after the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in his hometown.
To recall, Blake — an unarmed African American — was shot seven times by police on August 23rd. It led to more protests and a refocusing on Black Lives Matter.
Now, speaking to ABC News, Gordon gave his thoughts on what has happened in Kenosha.
“I mean, it was just heartbreaking,” the Broncos RB said. “I just instantly got sad, it just got sad. … After everything we've been through, everything we're trying to accomplish as a whole, and to still see actions like this, especially back at my home, it's just heartbreaking,”
Melvin Gordon also put his full support behind the NBA players who chose to boycott their games during the NBA Playoffs in protest of the continued police brutality as a result of Blake's shooting.
“We have voices — players, athletes. We have a platform and it's on us to use that. … We need guys like that to use that,” Gordon shared about the NBA boycott. “We need guys like that to kind of step out of that comfort zone and help to make change.”
The Broncos star, who is entering his sixth season in the NFL, played for Bradford High School in Kenosha. While at Bradford, he was a two-sport athlete — also running track while playing football.
On the gridiron, Gordon rushed for 1,061 yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior year. He also had four receiving touchdowns that same season. His senior year, he rushed for 2,009 yards and 38 touchdowns, being named to the All-State team and as the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year.