Jack Del Rio may have apologized, but he is still drawing strong reactions after he defended one of his recent tweets which drew comparisons between racial justice protests in the summer of 2020 and the Capitol riot in 2021.
Jack Del Rio was replying to a news article about the January 6 hearings when he asked why the summer of “riots, looting, burning and the destruction of personal property” isn’t getting the same level of attention from lawmakers, hashtagging the tweet “#CommonSense.”
Del Rio doubled down Wednesday while speaking to reporters during an OTA about the message he was trying to send with the tweet.
“I can look at images on the TV, people’s livelihoods are being destroyed, businesses are being burned down, no problem,” Del Rio said Wednesday. “And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol, nothing burned down, and we’re going to make that a major deal?”
NAACP President Derrick Johnson is calling for Del Rio to resign.
“It’s time for Jack Del Rio to resign or be terminated,” Johnson said. “His comments could not have been more offensive and ignorant. The January 6th insurrection — an attempted coup — was far from a “dust-up.” Each day we learn more and more on just how close our democracy came to autocracy. Downplaying the insurrection by comparing it to nationwide protests, which were in response to a public lynching, is twisted. You can’t coach a majority Black team while turning your back on the Black community. It’s time for you to pack up and step off the field.”
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Del Rio quickly retracted his viral statement:
“I made comments earlier today in referencing the attack that took place on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Referencing that situation as a dust-up was irresponsible and negligent and I am sorry,” he wrote. “I stand by my comments condemning violence in communities across the country. I say that while also expressing my support as an American citizen for peaceful protest in our country. I have fully supported all peaceful protests in America.”
Head coach Ron Rivera declined to answer questions about Del Rio’s tweet, saying he didn’t care to discuss things “not pertaining to football.”