Raiders Owner Mark Davis Drops Ball With Insensitive Tweet

It looks like the Las Vegas Raiders frequently make the news for the wrong reasons. In the midst of the conviction of former police office Derek Chauvin, the team got the spotlight because of an insensitive Tweet their social media team posted.

A jury found Chauvin guilty in the death of George Floyd. The conviction was met with mostly universal praise and joy. Many NFL teams posted messages about the need to keep fighting racial injustice. The Denver Broncos saw it as “a moment of accountability and justice.” However, the Raiders went a different route and posted a message on social media that said, ‘I can breathe.’ The Tweet received negative backlash and rightfully so. ‘I can’t breathe’ were the last words” George said before Chauvin murdered him.

The team’s social media team rightfully earned scrutiny, as the message was tone-deaf. Nevertheless, the situation took an unexpected twist. Owner Mark Davis told Ed Graney of Las Vegas-Review Journal he had come up with the Tweet and added that he took full responsibility for it but he wasn’t going to take it down. Later, Tashan Reed of The Athletic had the chance to talk to Davis.

Reed pointed out New York Police Department supporters wore “I Can Breathe” shirts following the 2014 killing of Eric Garner. Davis said he had quoted George Floyd’s brother Philonise, ‘today, we are able to breathe again’, which he indeed said after the verdict. The owner mentioned that it’s too late to take the Tweet down. Moreover, he believes he learned something.