Texans safety Justin Reid reflected on the murder of former Houston resident George Floyd, a Yates graduate and former football and basketball player who was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin a year ago.
The anniversary of Floyd’s death was discussed during an Inspire Change video that featured Reid, Doug Williams and New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis providing their perspectives on the original viral video of Floyd dying while in police custody that sparked national outrage, protests and a deeper conversation about racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, civil rights and social injustice.
“The murder of George Floyd was a catalyst to something,” Reid said, “ that was in the works for a long time, even all the way back to the days of John Lewis, the movement on the bridge and how that was a big catalyst.”
Floyd and the aftermath stemming from his murder, with Chauvin convicted of the charges, was a major part of the NFL’s social justice initiative in a Say Their Stories public service announcement series video: https://app.frame.io/presentations/b187ef48-4cb6-4908-bb84-ea9abdecce27
“Understanding that that’s a life that was lost, that was taken away, because of things we have allowed to exist in our society for too long,” Davis said. “We can’t bring [George Floyd] or his family justice, but we can honor his life and, honoring his life is allowing it stand for something. His murder won’t be in vain.”
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.