:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66888129/1188369056.jpg.0.jpg)
Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan football program is now a part of the movement.
After using his platform to speak about the death of George Floyd several times last week, he joined the peaceful protesters in Ann Arbor on Tuesday:
Jim Harbaugh, sporting a maize and blue mask, took part in an anti-police brutality march in Ann Arbor this morning.
— Aaron McMann (@AaronMcMann) June 2, 2020
(Story by @samgododge/ photo by @jenna_kieser) https://t.co/EA8GylePqv pic.twitter.com/PED0zerfn9
Maize N’ Brew alum Sam Dodge was on the story for the Ann Arbor News as he reported that Michigan football walk-on Mahmoud Issa organized the rally and his head coach along with Michigan basketball star Isaiah Livers were present in the march.
Harbaugh is one of many in the Michigan community who has spoken out on social media about the injustices that African Americans experience in America, and the police brutality that exists as a byproduct of it.
The Michigan Football Twitter page and all of the Michigan Athletics social media partook in the #BlackOutTuesday movement:
Today, we will be pausing all of our social content as we take time for an honest, reflective and productive conversation about what actions we need to collectively take to support the Black community. #BlackOutTuesday pic.twitter.com/kIlm0Q2Qpa
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) June 2, 2020
The challenge was for different social media accounts to go dark for a day so people will spend less time on the on social platforms and go research and educate themselves on the Black Lives Matter movement and the history of segregation in the United States and across the world.
Along with Harbaugh and the Michigan football program, several assistant coaches have voiced their opinions over the last several days.
Harbaugh’s son and special teams coordinator/running backs coach, Jay Harbaugh, spread this message on Twitter on Friday:
— Jay Harbaugh (@JayHarbaugh) May 31, 2020
Following his post, offensive coordinator for the Wolverines, Josh Gattis, thanked the Harbaugh’s for their message and for the opportunities they have given minorities at the highest level of college football.
In challenging times of racial inequality and injustice I am even more thankful for the Harbaugh Family! TY ✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ pic.twitter.com/RV4bBOEmPl
— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) June 2, 2020
Grant Perry, who once donned the maize n’ blue at wide receiver. He posted this picture of a man in a Michigan mask holding a sign in protest of police brutality with an impactful caption to go along with it:
Stand for nothing, fall for everything. #Equality #unity #love pic.twitter.com/QfF1PJUkwI
— Grant Perry (@TheGrantPerry) June 2, 2020
Football Recruiting Director Matty Dudek posted this peaceful message on Twitter, Friday, showing how we can be the example and pass down equality to our children:
It’s well beyond the point of just “not being racist” and it must become “I’m fully against all racism”
— Matty Dudek (@Thee_Matty_D) May 30, 2020
I was raised that way, my daughters are being raised that way and my family will certainly be a part of that change...we all have to be
✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ https://t.co/ZDFeiVcapz
Some recruits are noticing the Wolverines’ coaching staff and their activeness amid these protest, including three-star 2021 commit Markus Allen:
Nothing better than my Coach.〽️ He stands with us.✊ 〽️ https://t.co/N6iY0Gikuh
— Markus Allen☆ (@MarkusAllen19) June 2, 2020
Another member of the Michigan football family who helped organize the march in Ann Arbor today was defensive lineman Jess Speight, brother to former starting quarterback Wilton Speight who sent this email to help raise awareness:
Proud of you @JessSpeight52, the @UMichFootball team and everyone else participating in Ann Arbor today. If you’re in the area, go seek justice together! #justiceforGeorge pic.twitter.com/c0vV7aJx0e
— Wilton Speight (@WiltonSpeight) June 2, 2020
Wideout Mike Sainristil shouted for justice on Twitter asking for change in the American society:
I just want change. I know for a fact we can come together and this. Please!!! For both whites and blacks AMERCIA!! We know what’s right and wrong
— Mike Sainristil (@MikeSainristil) May 30, 2020
Juwan Howard made his public address to the situation on Monday calling for all of us to do better:
— Juwan Howard (@JuwanHoward) June 1, 2020
Former Wolverine Charles Matthews shared this insightful quote on Saturday:
“You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.”
— Charles Matthews (@1CMatthews) May 31, 2020
Naismith Award winner Trey Burke, one of the greatest Wolverines basketball players of all-time shared this stern message about the injustices that African American face:
Moe Wagner, who journeyed to the United States from Germany, had a strong message about the United States being “the greatest country in the world”:
— Moe Wagner (@moritz_weasley) June 1, 2020
Finally, Jalen Rose, who has been a social activist for decades, using his platforms of ESPN, the NBA, and college basketball to bring issues to light, said this on Get Up last week:
#icantbreathe. pic.twitter.com/RElIr7YQz3
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) May 29, 2020
If I missed anyone (and I’m sure I did) feel free to share in the comment section below!