Four NFL players took to the op-ed section in the New York Times to encourage President Trump to move from pardons to real criminal justice reform Thursday morning.
“He should be commended for using his clemency power,” they wrote about Trump ending Alice Johnson’s sentence. Johnson was serving life sentence for a non-violent, first offense drug offense. (RELATED: She’s Out! Alice Johnson Released — Praises Jesus, Kim Kardashian And Trump)
They did continue though, saying that the president’s pardoning abilities would not solve the underlying problems they see, which are, “police brutality, unnecessary incarceration, excessive criminal sentencing, residential segregation and educational inequality.”
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) June 21, 2018
The players recommended getting rid of lifetime sentences for non-violent offenses, among many other things.
Earlier this month, the president issued a statement directed to the players who were protesting – sent him names of people who they think are deserving of pardons, and he’d consider them. (RELATED: Trump Makes NFL Kneelers An Offer)