Players for the Buffalo Bills can choose to wear a decal highlighting social justice on their helmets, including the phase “Black Lives Matters,” among others.
The team made the announcement Saturday on Twitter, a day before the season opener against the New York Jets.
"Ahmaud Arbery. Black Lives Matter. It Takes all of us. Elijah McClain. Stop Hate. Breonna Taylor,” the Tweet read, “These names and phrases will be on our players’ helmets this season. This is why it matters.”
In the seven minute video, the Bills featured players who weighed in on social justice issues, and why it matters to them.
The Bills said players can choose from “several racial justice messages” or spotlight “a victim of police violence.”
RB Devin Singletary will feature “Stop hate” decal on his helmet. Singletary said it’s important for him to speak up for the people who don’t have a voice, and those whose voices aren’t heard.
CB Levi Wallace will feature the name of “Ahmaud Arbery” on his helmet. Wallace said he chose Arbery because the video of his death affected him the most.
“I was here in Buffalo training during the offseason since I had surgery, and I would running around Buffalo…you know trails, neighborhoods and stuff like that,” Wallace said. “And just to see how easily that could happen to me, you know, being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Wallace said his brother ran track, and together, they would run.
“It made me sick to my stomach,” he said.