Dak Prescott pledges $1 million for police training

Listen to this article

Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has pledged $1 million to improve police training in hopes of addressing racial profiling and police brutality.

Prescott, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, posted the announcement on his Instagram page Wednesday in response to the death of George Floyd.

“I have viewed these protests and riots in our streets as a form of strength and an attempt to show we as black people have rights that aren’t being perceived equally as our counterparts,” Prescott wrote.

Floyd, a black man, was killed May 25 when Derek Chauvin, a white police officer in Minneapolis, knelt on his neck during an arrest.

Last week, Chauvin was arrested. Wednesday, the charges against him were upgraded to second-degree murder. The other three officers at the scene — Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao — have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, according to criminal complaints.

While expressing respect for police, Prescott also asked them to change.

“I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving your communities,” Prescott wrote. “When you chose to wear the badge of a police officer, you pledged to PROTECT life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations. How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your ranks don’t abide by it? You need to hold your own accountable. Each of you are as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systemic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide. TAKE ACTION!”

Floyd’s death has sparked dozens of protests around the nation to demand justice and equality.