Since Tuesday, Charlotte has become a very different city. Ever since a police officer shot and killed a man, protests and riots have broken out all over Charlotte. This is not a regular scene for a usually quiet Charlotte community.
On Wednesday, the media tried to ask Panthers players and coaches of what they think about the situation. Although head coach Ron Rivera was not happy with the questions, he did have a few things to say.
From Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer:
“Eight years ago, this country did something nobody ever thought we would do. We elected an African-American president,” Rivera said. “Why did we do that? Because people got up and voted. There was a movement. We changed things. This country changed things because that’s what happened.
“So maybe instead of tearing up your own city, maybe instead of doing things the wrong way, we do things the right way. This is a democratic society. Like I said, vote. It’s the most powerful thing we have. That’s what the men and women of our armed services fought for – these rights.”
Rivera then went on to say a few more things:
“Maybe that’s what we need to do: Take a deep breath and do the right thing and do it the right way. I’m not sure if what happened last night was the right way. I just don’t know. I know this much: I’m going to vote like I do every year or every two years. I’m going to vote and see what happens.”
Rivera then ended his comments with mentioning the controversial HB2 bill in North Carolina that has led to many lost sports events, such as the NBA All-Star game:
“There needs to be some conversation. But the people that should be conversing about it aren’t. Are they? Have they reached across party lines? Have they reached across the Senate and the House and talked about it? Have you heard anything come from them? No, we haven’t, have we?” Rivera said.
“The governor’s trying to get something changed and the city won’t talk to him. I probably shouldn’t have said that, but I did.”
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