Over the course of his college career, Joe Burrow wasn't shy to speak his mind.
And now that he's a member of the NFL, that doesn't appear to have changed.
Following the killing of a Minneapolis man named George Floyd, who died while being arrested by four police officers on Monday, police brutality and stories of racial injustice find themselves at the forefront of the news cycle. Taking to Twitter on Friday, Burrow, who is white, called for others to listen to the black community and pay attention to the racial injustices in society.
"The black community needs our help," Burrow said. "They have been unheard for far too long. Open your ears, listen, and speak. This isn’t politics. This is human rights."
With his tweet, Burrow joined a chorus of celebrities and athletes who have used their platforms to speak out against Floyd's killing. Earlier this week, NBA superstar LeBron James did the same when he contrasted the image of a police officer with his knee over Floyd's neck to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick peacefully protesting police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.
A native of Athens, Ohio, Burrow began his college career at Ohio State before transferring to LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2019 en route to leading the Tigers to the College Football Playoff championship. Last month, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.