Alabama football joined together this week for a collective team statement standing against racism, brutality and violence. Senior offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood penned the essay, which was read on camera by a collection of the Tide's biggest names, including coach Nick Saban.
The video, which runs just over two minutes, was posted on Thursday from the official Alabama football Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts with the message, "In this moment in history, we can't be silent."
“In this moment in history, we can’t be silent.” pic.twitter.com/YF4ndJSpa0
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) June 25, 2020
According to AL.com, the decision to post the video came after team video calls "with prominent Black voices including Condoleezza Rice, Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith." The Tide players were challenged to use their platform for good and they responded with a message of unity, calling for more listening and understanding from people of different races and backgrounds.
"We are a team, black, white and brown. We are brothers, we represent ourselves, our families, our hometowns, our university and our country," the team collectively states at the beginning of the video, before going state the teams goals to contribute in "building a better, more just future."
Players involved in the video include Leatherwood, quarterback Mac Jones, defensive back Patrick Surtain II, wide receiver DeVonta Smith, linebacker Josh McMillan, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, linebacker Dylan Moses, defensive lineman DJ Dale and many, many more. Saban was the only coach to contribute to the video essay, but his presence is felt in the video through several appearances.
At the conclusion of the video, several players repeat the essay's final statement: "Because all lives can't matter until Black lives matter."
