A PSA about police brutality is set to air during the Super Bowl, and the national Fraternal Order of Police are not thrilled about the commercial. The PSA is from the Players Coalition, an initiative founded by Anquan Boldin and with Philadelphia Eagles Malcolm Jenkins in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and Colin Kaepernick’s now-famous kneeling protests.
The ad stars the now-retired Boldin, who’s cousin, Corey Jones, was unlawfully gunned down by Palm Beach Gardens cop, Nouman Raja in 2015. Raja pulled up to Jones’s car in an unmarked van and shot the young drummer to death, in what prosecutors say was a racially motivated crime.
In the commercial, Boldin reenacts the events that led up to Jones’ death while narrating about his feelings upon learning of his cousin being murdered by a policeman. A state jury eventually convicted Raja on charges of manslaughter and attempted first-degree murder in March 2019 and sentenced him to 25 years behind bars.
“There’s just some things that are bigger than football,” Boldin says in the PSA. “And I felt like starting the Players Coalition, and effecting change in this country is one of those things.
According to the Miami New Times, the Fraternal Order of Police FOP feels that the TV spot could lead to police officers being “defamed.”
FOP president Patrick Yoes released a statement this week, expressing their concern that a PSA such as this one could have lasting effects on law enforcement.
“In order to achieve total success in this venture, all parties must be willing to open a dialogue and work together to avoid unintentional consequences caused by messaging that defames the nobility of the many brave men and women of law enforcement,” Yoes said in the statement.
Despite the FOP disagreeance, the PSA has already aired two weeks ago during the NFL’s NFC Championship Game and will air again during Sunday’s big game.
