Politics

NFL Players Urge Trump To Revisit Criminal Justice Reform

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: The NFL shield logo is seen following a press conference held by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

Mike Brest Reporter
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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)

“[President Trump] could use his powers, including the clemency power, to make a real dent in the federal prison population,” they added. “People like Alice Johnson, for example, should not be given de facto life sentences for nonviolent drug crimes in the first place.”

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.”

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)

The four players who authored the piece are Doug Baldwin, Anquan Boldin, Malcolm Jenkins and Benjamin Watson and they are all a part of the Players Coalition.