The National Football League and the family of Botham Jean partnered to release a public service announcement about racism and violence from police ahead of the Super Bowl.
Jean, a 28-year-old accountant, was shot and killed by an off-duty Dallas police officer, Amber Guyger, while eating ice cream and watching a football game. Guyger accidentally entered Botham’s apartment, thinking it was her own, and shot him.
In the video released Wednesday, the NFL compiled clips of Jean’s family describing his loving personality and his death. They called for donations to the Botham Jean Foundation, which was founded by his sister, to honor Jean’s legacy. Jean’s mother, Allison Jean, summed up the goal of the foundation, saying, “What I want to see happening is that our black boys are not seen as a threat.”
She later added, “What has happened to Botham should not happen to another family.”
Jean’s sister, Alissa Findley, explained, “The color of my skin can be perceived as a weapon, and it’s not.”
https://t.co/0k9IQU4xM5
We are in this together.#EveryonesChild #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/yaH04eG2OA— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2020
The video also highlighted the moment Jean’s younger brother, Brandt, forgave Guyger and offered her a hug when she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his brother’s death. Jean’s father, Bertram Jean, said, “Why should there be hatred for each other. My own son demonstrated forgiveness. Brandt forgave the woman who just killed his brother.”
In a statement to ABC News, the NFL explained that this was the third installment of a partnership between Roc Nation, a music label founded by rapper Jay Z, and the league as they work to promote social justice. The NFL stated, “The launch serves as the third PSA of The Responsibility Program, a joint initiative between Roc Nation and the NFL to unveil PSAs that raise awareness about the need to come together to create change in our communities and respect one another.”
Findley added, “I’m thankful that the NFL created this PSA to honor Botham’s legacy and deliver an important message about empathy and unity. I truly hope that our society learns from Botham’s story — and the stories of many others — so we can make a lasting change in this world. Together, we must all set a better example for future generations and leaders.”
In a separate installment of the videos produced by the NFL and Roc Nation, the league featured Anquan Bolden, whose cousin, Cory Jones, was killed by an undercover police officer in 2015.
Be the change. #InspireChange
@AnquanBoldin | @InspireChange pic.twitter.com/8AOv85BUVI— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2020
The NFL was forced into a corner on issues of race and police brutality when several players, led by Colin Kaepernick, started to kneel during the national anthem. The NFL was ripped by those who supported the protests for not doing more to support players such as Kaepernick and was equally bashed by people who opposed the protests for not doing more to stop them.
The league’s biggest game, the Super Bowl, will be played on Feb. 2. The game is sure to have plenty of political moments, including advertisements from both Michael Bloomberg and the Trump campaign.
