GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Packers were back on the practice field Friday after a closed meeting Thursday morning that canceled practice.
The team discussed racial injustice issues, stemming from Sunday’s police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
“The positive conversations came about when we were able to be in a room with the doors shut and to communicate about how we felt about what was going on in our society as well as what we felt as a team what we could do to better the world and better society and fix the systemic problem,” said offensive lineman Billy Turner.
“If the state of Wisconsin expects us to go out there and win football games and do our jobs, we expect our fellow workers here to do their jobs as well, our fellow officers to do their jobs as well,” said linebacker Christian Kirksey.
“That was meaningful for us as a football team, because they needed to know where we stand,” said Turner. “We also wanted to know where they stand, so when we do move forward as a team, they’re a part of it and they can be there helping us and backing us every step of the way.”
“This is not just a one-time thing, we’re going to continue it each and every day. We’re going to continue to talk about it, bring awareness and to keep pushing to create change,” said safety Adrian Amos. “I don’t have all the answers. I’m not 100 percent sure of everything I’m going to do, but I know for sure that I’m going to help make a difference.”
The Packers opener is just over two weeks away in Minneapolis. It’s the same city where a police officer allegedly murdered George Floyd — setting off a summer of nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism.
The team doesn’t know how, or if it will protest on Sept. 13.
“I haven’t made up my mind of exactly what I’m going to do, but I’m going to support my fellow teammates,” said Kirksey. “I’m going to support the Green Bay Packers and what we do as a unit and we’re going to make sure we do the right thing and make sure that we keep our message clear.”
“The idea of protesting is to make people who are higher up, like our president, notice what we are doing,” said Turner. “We understand he doesn’t like it. Why do you think we continue to protest? Because nothing has changed.”
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