The Carolina Panthers have become the latest Organization to sever its ties with a Company who doesn't quite get the impact of George Floyd's murder at the hands of white police officers and what the Black Lives Matter Movement is all about.
According to a published report by the Charlotte News and Observer, a community organizer in Charlotte, NC sent out a mass email to local groups and organizations calling for action after Floyd's death. The CEO, Ken Gill decided to respond this way:
Please spend your time in a more productive way,” Gill said in an email, via the Observer. “A better use of time, would be to focus on the black on black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men.
“Have a great day, Ken Gill.”
“Let me say that CPI, and I personally, stand against racism and discrimination of any kind, and we are actively supporting solutions like the new CMPD de-escalation training facility that will bring positive change to our community. I fully support the call for racial equality and justice in our community and our country,” Gill said. “We (at CPI) take a great deal of pride in our inclusive culture and in protecting the families and diverse communities we serve. I apologize if my comments did not reflect those values.”
His apology didn't help much because the Panthers decided to cut ties with the NC security company, along with Michael Jordan's Charlotte Hornets Basketball Team, the Charlotte Knights and Durham Bulls baseball teams and NC State.
I guess Mr. White Privilege will think twice before he decides to share his thoughts on racial injustice in this country. But, obviously from his remarks, he doesn't see any.
