One day after shops in Baltimore were looted and buildings were set on fire, several
Baltimore-area sports stars pleaded for an end to the violence.
Ray Lewis, who played 17 seasons as a star linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, took to
social media and in a Facebook post implored youth involved in the violence the night
before to"go home. Stay home."
No way, No way this can happen in our city...
— Ray Lewis (@raylewis)
April 28, 2015
#Violence is not the
answer. We must have #peace in
our #city, we are a city
that's built on #Believing in each other. #BaltimoreRiots
—
Ray Lewis (@raylewis) April 28, 2015
We must come together,we can stop the violence as a #community.These kids have to have
real leaders,we need everybody to join this #movement
— Ray Lewis
(@raylewis) April 28,
2015
Lewis added he would remain at home in Maryland rather than travel to Chicago to work
for ESPN at the NFL Draft.
"I felt that it was more important for me to stay in Baltimore and try to help the city I
love," Lewis said in a statement."I greatly appreciate ESPN's understanding and flexibility
at this late date. I did not feel right leaving the city at this time."
New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, who was born in New York but grew up in Baltimore,
called the events of Monday night"shocking" and called on residents to focus on the"real
issues at hand" in an Instagram post.
Washington Wizards players Paul Pierce and John Wall also took to Twitter to
speak out against the violent protests.
Having witnessed the LA riots first hand I know this is not the solution. Baltimore
Stop the Violence!
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) April 28, 2015
Come on Baltimore Lets ban together for PEACE! Violence isn't the answer!
#PrayersUp
— John
Wall (@JohnWall) April
28, 2015
Ravens defensive end Chris Canty called on peaceful protest to affect the positive change
that was needed."If you're going to engage in civil disobedience, it needs to be nonviolent," he told The Baltimore Sun."Violence is unproductive. It's our responsibility to speak out. It's a part of our obligation. We have to have some resolution. It has to start with peace and getting people off of the streets and unify the community and we can affect positive change through peaceful protest. There is social injustice. The police brutality has been well-documented. The Department of Justice isn't investigating the police for no reason. There needs to be a shift in policy. This isn't the way, though, with the few individuals trying to force that change through violent means."