Richard Sherman: 'I stand by what I said that All Lives Matter and that we are human beings'
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who is never afraid to speak his mind, believes "All Lives Matter."
In an interview with The Undefeated, he was asked about the "Black Lives Matter" movement and said this:
"It’s hard to formulate an opinion and generalize because they have several different messages. Some of them are peaceful and understandable and some of them are very radical and hard to support. Any time you see people who are saying, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ and then saying it’s time to kill police, then it is difficult to stand behind that logic. They are generalizing police just like they are asking police not to generalize us. It is very hypocritical. So, in that respect, I find it difficult to fully support that movement.
I stand by what I said that All Lives Matter and that we are human beings. And speaking to police, I want African-Americans and everybody else treated decently. I want them treated like human beings. And I also want the police treated like human beings. I don’t want police officers just getting knocked off in the street who haven’t done anything wrong.
Those are innocent lives.”
Since his comments earlier this week, Sherman has been defending his position on social media, saying he "will continue to use my platform to encourage our youth to overcome "systematic" circumstances. I will challenge them to be great."
Some accused Sherman of letting money and fame get to him, but he replied to those critics.
Sherman went on to tell The Undefeated "We hear a lot about Black Lives Matter. But I think race was created. I think everybody is a human being first and then the color of their skin wouldn’t matter if nobody told you it mattered, if that makes any sense."
If asked, Sherman said he would join the four NBA players -- Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James -- who at the ESPYs called on professional athletes to do more to stand up for what they believe in:
"One hundred percent.
It would have to be a united message. It would have to be something that I could stand behind. I won’t stand behind a message I didn’t believe."