Krzyzewski 'disgusted' and 'scared' following George Floyd's death
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski issued a statement Monday amid protests across the U.S. against police brutality, sparked in part by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Krzyzewski wrote:
I have been trying to find eloquent words to explain my thoughts regarding the recent acts of injustice in our country, but I cannot be eloquent about this. I am too emotional. I am angry! I am frustrated! I am disgusted and frankly, I am scared.
No matter how much I love my current and former players and their families, I cannot feel the depth of what they are feeling right now. I have never experienced what it is like to be a black man in America. So, I find myself asking questions: What is happening to us? When will we realize we are on the same team and that everyone on that team is important? When will we have each other's back? When will we insist on justice and equality for everyone? What can I do?
I want to help find the answers to these questions, but before we can get answers, we have to understand at a new level. And to understand, we must listen. Listen and not judge. We need to stand up for what is right, and we must no longer tolerate racism and social injustice in our country.
Krzyzewski joins a growing list of prominent college basketball coaches who have spoken out since Floyd died on May 25.
On Friday, Kentucky head coach John Calipari said he felt "sick" about the incident, adding that he had addressed it with players on the team. Longtime Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said Saturday he had spoken with several current and former Spartans players and called the last few days "among my most difficult as a coach."
Floyd died after Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, ignoring Floyd saying he couldn't breathe. Chauvin was fired last week and later charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The official autopsy cited in the criminal complaint against Chauvin found nothing "to support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation," but an independent autopsy commissioned by Floyd's family determined Monday that Floyd died of asphyxiation due to neck and back compression, according to The Associated Press' Amy Forliti and Steve Karnowski.