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WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME

Seahawks’ Michael Bennett: Cops Drew Guns on Me for ‘Being a Black Man’

The Seahawks’ defensive end shared a devastating story of Las Vegas cops drawing guns and slamming him to the ground.

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USA Today Sports/Reuters

By Clare Palo

On Wednesday, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett posted a statement to Twitter that detailed Las Vegas police threatening him and pinning him to the ground.

The N.F.L. player tweeted that he felt “terrified” and “helpless” during the incident, which he says transpired early in the morning after the Mayweather-McGregor fight on August 27.

According to Bennett, he heard what seemed to be gunshots in a crowded area and ran for cover. He claims the police singled him out and pointed guns at him “for doing nothing more than simply being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time.” The police allegedly forced him to lie on the ground, threatening to "blow [his] fucking head off" if he moved.

Police officer Jacinto Rivera told The Associated Press that Las Vegas police are checking for records of the incident, but cannot verify Bennett’s report at this time, according to ESPN.

TMZ posted a video of the incident which shows Bennett on the ground, being handcuffed by an officer.

In it, Bennett calls out, “I wasn’t doing nothing, man.”

Bennett says he was placed in a police car before officers confirmed his identity, later releasing him upon realizing he was not a “thug, common criminal or ordinary black man, but Michael Bennett, a famous professional football player.”

He claims this was done "without any legitimate justification for the Officers’ abusive conduct."

Notable figures including former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Bennett’s brother, Martellus Bennett, and Seahawks center Justin Britt took to social media to express their anger over the “disgusting” and “unjust” incident.

Via @mosesbread72 the call that night was a scary one. The emotion and the thought of almost losing you because of the way you look left me in one of the saddest places ever. I could hear the fear in your voice, the tears in your eyes as well your sprinting heart beat. I can't imagine how the people who lost their loved ones felt when they got the call. A lot of people feel like it couldn't happen to them because of status, neighborhood ("tghat only happens in the hood") or whatever, but it all honesty YOU could be next. I COULD BE NEXT. YOUR SON, DAUGHTER, BROTHER, FATHER, GRANDPA, SISTER, COUSIN could be next. I'm sad that you have to share this type of experience with the world but at the same time I'm happy that it happened to you and you lived to talk about it because we all know you're going to talk about it. Lol. The conversation is growing and I'm glad your voice is one of the ones being heard. You are as real as they come, well at least how they used to come. I encourage you to Continue telling your story and the stories of those that came before. I love you very much @mosesbread72 to me you're much more than a nigger.

A post shared by Martellus Bennett (@martellusb) on

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Clare Palo
Clare Palo

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