Clemson University’s head football coach, Dabo Swinney, addressed reporters Monday over the nationwide riots engulfing the nation in the largest outbreak of civil disobedience in decades following the aftermath of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
“Love doesn’t see color, hate does,” Swinney said during a media zoom call, according to Clemson beat reporter Matt Connolly at The State Newspaper in South Carolina. “Hatred has no heart, love does.”
Dabo Swinney: "Love doesn’t see color, hate does. Hatred has no heart, love does."
— Matt Connolly (@MattOnClemson) June 1, 2020
“We are all hurting for the Floyd family and our country… We have all witnessed just disgusting acts of evil. That’s really the only word I can appropriately use,” Swinney said, according to Athletic reporter Nicole Auerbach.
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1267541188778786816?s=20
Swinney’s comments come as the nation descends into yet another night of frenzied anarchy while major cities across the U.S. implementing curfews to quell the violent protests.
As Washington D.C.’s 7 p.m. curfew went into effect, President Donald Trump declared in a Rose Garden address that in the absence of state action, he would be invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act to mobilize the U.S. military to shut down the ruthless riots terrorizing the nation and destroying the livelihoods of those having survived the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“I am your law and order president,” Trump said as rioters were being cleared outside the White House. “The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities, and as their president, I will fight to keep them safe.”
Other prominent sports figures have also weighed in on the nationwide protests sweeping American cities.
“I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” NBA all-star Michael Jordan said in a statement Sunday. “We need to continue peaceful expressions against injustice and demand accountability.”
Statement from Michael Jordan: pic.twitter.com/lWkZOf1Tmr
— Jordan (@Jumpman23) May 31, 2020
One football star was shot and killed during Indianapolis riots on Saturday. Chris Beaty, who used to play for Indiana University from 2000 to 2004 and was pronounced dead on the scene after suffering multiple wounds, according to the Indianapolis Star.
“I am at a loss for words. The news of the passing of Chris Beaty is just devastating,” Indiana football coach Tom Allen said in a statement of the former linebacker, who since graduating remained involved with the school’s program. “Since I returned home to coach at Indiana, Chris embraced me, encouraged me and supported me! His passion for life and Indiana Football energized me every time we were together.”
