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Ravens Outline Plan to Advocate for Social Justice After Jacob Blake Shooting

Paul KasabianSenior ContributorAugust 27, 2020

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) speaks with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens released a statement Thursday outlining a six-point plan to combat systemic racism and police brutality:

Baltimore Ravens @Ravens

Statement from the Baltimore Ravens: https://t.co/Q8kOzQ8qAZ

The plan includes arresting the police officers responsible for the shooting of Jacob Blake and the death of Breonna Taylor, demanding U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell bring the "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020" to a vote on the Senate floor, backing CALEA accreditation and national standards in police care, encouraging people to register to vote, calling for prison sentencing reform and asking citizens to "act with respect and compliance when engaging with the police."

The Ravens also encouraged people to contact their respective local police department's internal affairs unit if they felt a police officer abused their power while engaging with them.

"We will use our power to drive change nowโ€”not just for our generation, but for the generations that follow, for our sons and daughters and for their children," the Ravens wrote in their statement's conclusion.

The Ravens' call for action sparked responses from the team's players on Twitter, with many of them backing the statement and asking followers to create change:

Mark Ingram II @markingram21

Proud to be a Raven ๐Ÿ’œ https://t.co/9TKuYhpFMG

Robert Griffin III @RGIII

Please Read and demand change!!! https://t.co/u0lIrom3z6

Justin Tucker @jtuck9

Proud to be a part of this organization. Senator McConnell @senatemajldr, Put the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing bill on the Senate floor for a vote. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/RIHwDyFZKa

Trace McSorley @McSorley_IX

The time for change is now โœŠ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’œ https://t.co/VYQ1dnqIOd

Willie Snead IV @Willie_Snead4G

Love this Family ๐Ÿค #InspireChange https://t.co/vtehNWYUep

Calais Campbell @CalaisCampbell

We want real change! And we want it now! https://t.co/nIbXHiv4oQ

The team's response also received praise from numerous analysts.ย Sports Illustrated's MMQBย re-tweeted the Ravens and called it a "strong, actionable, detailed-oriented statement."

Others, such as NFL Network's Jim Trotter and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, provided praise as well:

Jim Trotter @JimTrotter_NFL

๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿพ https://t.co/ssuMs5tFxt

Matt Schneidman @mattschneidman

Ravens already 1-0 on the season https://t.co/pXj64OoHhI

The Ravens are scheduled to begin their regular season Sunday, Sept. 13 at home against the Cleveland Browns.