Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff took to Instagram on Saturday night, advocating for change while also asking people to “Love each other a little more than usual.”
Jared Goff posted this message to his Instagram account this evening. pic.twitter.com/EwtXN0rjoz
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) May 31, 2020
Jared Goff acknowledged he does not have the same shared experiences as Black Americans, also stating it is his “responsibility” to educate himself and engage in discourse so as to facilitate change.
Jared Goff is aware that tensions in the U.S. have grown considerably after the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody on Monday in Minneapolis.
Protests against racial injustice have been organized in major cities throughout the country, though many have escalated in terms of violence and escalation between protesters and police forces.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed the state's National Guard to the L.A. area on Saturday evening, eliciting concern from Jared Goff and others.
The California National Guard is being deployed to Los Angeles overnight to support our local response to maintain peace and safety on the streets of our city.
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) May 31, 2020
Jared Goff and others who care about Los Angeles watched as the National Guard subsequently manned the streets into the early hours on Sunday morning (from the AP via KTLA 5):
Armed National Guard soldiers patrolled the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday as the city began cleaning up after a night of violence that saw demonstrators clash repeatedly with officers, torch police vehicles and pillage businesses.
A rare citywide curfew expired as dawn revealed broken shop windows, demolished security gates and graffiti along entire blocks. Firefighters mopped up hot spots from lingering fires while store owners swept up glass and boarded up broken windows to protect what’s left of their inventories.
Jared Goff is just one of numerous athletes who have spoken out in protest in the aftermath of Floyd's death. Some even took part in marches in various major cities.
The number of sports figures flocking to social media and using their respective voices serve as a reminder of just how deeply this issue is rooted in the American fabric.
At the very least, Goff is using his platform to call for togetherness and systemic change.
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