The United States has been hurting this summer because of gun violence.
We have seen shootings happen in Buffalo, Texas, and Tulsa inside market stores, elementary schools, and hospitals.
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Change needs to occur, and a former Alabama player used a press conference stage to touch on the issues.
Jalen Hurts is entering his third season as a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is performing well in organized team activities or OTAs, but he took Friday as an opportunity to raise awareness on something deeper. During his press conference, Hurts said “he could not imagine his cousins not coming home from school, his younger sister not coming home from school, or his father not coming home from work.” He said fear should not belong in schools, shopping malls, or hospitals. Hurts spoke from the heart on the importance of sharing love, appreciating what we have, and getting violent activities out of the streets.
Jalen Hurts started his press conference with a strong statement about gun violence and the need for change: #Eagles pic.twitter.com/jCWoCbRolb
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) June 3, 2022
“We have to make true change,” Hurts said. “It is something we urge throughout our communities in Philadelphia. Over 40 people got shot this weekend. This has to change. This has to change.”
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Hurts has been a natural leader since high school in Texas.
He carried the leadership to the University of Alabama and the University of Oklahoma. His words hold weight, and we need to see a change in this nation. Hopefully, Hurts will continue keeping Philadelphia in a positive state of mind.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
