Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence speaks on racial injustices after death of George Floyd

Trevor Lawrence speaks up about injustice.

Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a leader on the field for the Tigers who are expected to be the preseason No. 1 team this season and title contenders. He’s also a leader off the field and he proved it again with his poignant comments in the wake of the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer who has been charged with third-degree murder.

Lawrence tweeted: “There has to be a shift in the way of thinking. Rational must outweigh irrational. Justice must outweigh injustice. Love must outweigh hate. If you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and you don’t like how it feels-that’s when you know things need to change.

I’m siding with my brothers that deal, and continuously deal, with things I will never experience. The injustice is clear.. and so is the hate. It can no longer be explained away. If you’re still “explaining” it – check your heart and ask why.”

In a time when leadership is essential and more voices need to speak up, Lawrence should be commended for his words and his actions. Lawrence was among the first college football players to weigh in on the crisis that has seen riots hit the country from coast to coast.

Lawrence was joined by UNC quarterback Sam Howell, Texas’ Sam Ehlinger and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance who actually participated in a protest in Fargo, among many others, who shared their sentiments, thoughts, hopes and feelings about the injustices across the country. They were ahead of many of the leaders of their own programs.

Saturday afternoon saw a flood of college football coaches share a screenshot from their notes app or a few thoughts with a branded graphic on social media. Lawrence’s coach Dabo Swinney, has remained silent as pressure mounts for leaders to speak up.

Swinney’s comments from 2016 have circulated across Twitter on Sunday afternoon, but he has yet to weigh in on the ongoing and escalating racial tension across the country. ESPN commentator Bomani Jones took notice of Lawrence making a comment before his coach and said players are noticing who is saying something and who is staying silent.

Clemson President Jim Clements shared his thoughts on Twitter on Sunday, however, tweeting, “Let there be no doubt, we as a society must do better. Racism, injustice and hatred cannot be tolerated. We can, and must, do better.”