Lions cancel Tuesday’s practice, come together to…

Lions cancel Tuesday’s practice, come together to promote social justice in wake of Jacob Blake shooting

Detroit Lions’ practice was supposed to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday but the media was told practice would be delayed after player meetings were running long. Practice was delayed again, then delayed again, and finally canceled.

The Lions have made social justice a priority this offseason, and after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin over the weekend, the Lions’ players felt compelled to spend the day having raw conversations about it.

At 1:30 in the afternoon, Lions’ players came out to address the media as a group, standing together with a whiteboard message that read, “The World Can’t Go On!” and “We Won’t Be Silent!!”.

Players coming out to address us now. pic.twitter.com/hY6aoPGy9X

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 25, 2020

“We Won’t Be Silent!!” message from Lions players pic.twitter.com/8jgCQBwgQh

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) August 25, 2020

Duron Harmon, Trey Flowers, and Taylor Decker addressed the media outside the Lions facility in Allen Park.

S Duron Harmon is speaking on the mic. “The Detroit Lions organization is going to take a stand that what happened to Jacob Blake is not okay… We are going to speak out on it until we create change.”

— Tori Petry (@sportstori) August 25, 2020

“The Detroit Lions will be for change. We will not be silent.” – Duron Harmon

— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) August 25, 2020

Taylor Decker speaking now, emotion in his voice as one of his teammates telling a story about how his mom calling daily to make sure he got home OK.

Trey Flowers spoke just before Decker about the Lions and why they chose to speak out today.

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) August 25, 2020

"I want you to document. The Detroit Lions will be for change. we won't be silent….
We will play football and we will do everything we can to win football games but we will do everything we can to create change as well." Duron Harmon as Lions players cancel practice.

— Dan Miller (@DanMillerFox2) August 25, 2020

Team leaders Matthew Stafford, Trey Flowers, Duron Harmon, Taylor Decker, and coach Matt Patricia met virtually with the media to further discuss this issue, while other players and coaches took to social media after the demonstration to express their feelings:

This country has a problem! And we will not be silent and stand by as it occurs and reoccurs! Proud member of this team✊🏿✊🏿 https://t.co/gsim9exDtf

— Kerryon Johnson (@AyeyoKEJO) August 25, 2020

Can’t be numb to what’s going on. It’s bigger than football. Black lives matter!! https://t.co/l8hdJmchg1

— Romeo Okwara (@RomeoND45) August 25, 2020

We can’t become numb to it… The world can’t just go on… All lives don’t matter UNTIL Black lives matter .. Love this team ✊🏾 @Lions https://t.co/VsuBUvdzaX

— Amani Oruwariye (@AmaniO) August 25, 2020

#OnePride pic.twitter.com/8qZvoQHHdr

— Danny Shelton (@Danny_Shelton55) August 25, 2020

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿✊🏻 https://t.co/pC68G75XN4

— Marvin Jones Jr (@MarvinJonesJr) August 25, 2020

Change will come! #Equality #OnePride pic.twitter.com/d1l23mUH5d

— Marvin Hall Jr. (@bigplayhall_A2N) August 25, 2020

We can’t just go on and ignore the obvious issues in front of us. We can’t let ourselves become numb to the fact that unarmed black men are being publicly executed by cops. Why must it come to that? There must be change! https://t.co/loCjEZAXSR

— Chris Lacy II (@Gifted_CLacy) August 25, 2020

Can’t feel safe in a climate where people who look like me are being attacked and killed in the street. When I leave work, I’m still a BLACK MAN at the end of the day. As a team, we stand united on and off the field. Thankful for all my brothers @Lions https://t.co/S0McHoJrIT

— Will Harris (@Jamahl) August 25, 2020