The Players Coalition and dozens of professional athletes sent a letter Friday to Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting an immediate federal investigation into the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.
The letter was also sent to Eric Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the civil rights division. It was signed by such sports stars as Tom Brady, Steve Kerr and Players Coalition co-founders Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins.
Recommended Videos
The coalition was formed in 2017 to raise awareness about police and community relations, criminal justice reform and education and economic advancement. It developed out of the dispute between NFL team owners and the players who were kneeling during the national anthem to bring a focus to social injustice.
The letter requested that the FBI and the Department of Justiceās Civil Rights Division lead the investigation into the shooting of Arbery, a black man, on Feb. 23. Two white men, Travis and Greg McMichael, were charged this week with murder and aggravated assault after a video of the shooting was leaked.
National outrage over the case swelled this week after cellphone video surfaced that appeared to show the shooting.
LeBron James reacted with a coupletweets Wednesday, saying: āWeāre literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes! Canāt even go for a damn jog man!ā Fellow NBA star Stephen Curry wrote on Instagram: āAHMAUD ARBERY. Sickening whatās STILL happening out here. Donāt watch the video. Respect this man and his family. Remember the name.āā
A similar request for a federal investigation was made by the lawyer for Arberyās family.
āThe FBI has said itās assisting and as is standard protocol we look forward to working with them should information come to light of a potential federal violation,ā Justice Department spokesman Matt Lloyd said Wednesday.
The coalitionās letter cites alleged delays by Georgia prosecutors and asks for a ārobust federally led investigation ... the only way to restore community trust that Mr. Arberyās death will be fully investigated.ā
It includes 64 signatures, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams and the NFLās director of football operations, Troy Vincent.