In the wake of the tragic shooting at a Charleston, SC church that left nine dead, the Carolina Panthers have joined the voices from around the country calling for removing the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse.
Though located in Charlotte, NC, the Panthers consider themselves the team for both Carolinas (Charlotte is less than 15 miles from the South Carolina border).
"Our organization prides itself on bringing people together," Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond told the Charlotte Observer. "Divisive symbols and actions should not stand in conflict to progress, healing and the unification of all our citizens."
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley also supports the flag's removal.
"We're not going to allow this symbol to divide us any longer," she said during an afternoon news conference. "The fact that people are choosing to use it as a sign of hate is something we cannot stand. The fact that it causes pain to so many is enough to move it from the capital grounds."
Last week, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson donated $100,000 to the victims' families.
Jerry Richardson and the Carolina Panthers donated $100k to the victims families. People are so gracious. Warms my pic.twitter.com/TMs4mTezvx
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) June 20, 2015
From Richardson's letter:
In honor of Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, The Reverend Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, The Reverend Daniel L. Simmons Sr., and Myra Thompson, please accept the enclosed check from the Carolina Panthers in the amount of $100,000 to provide $10,000 per family to help defray funeral costs and other financial needs of each, and $10,000 for the church as a memorial honoring the victims.
Our hearts are one with those who grieve the loss of these individuals.
Respectfully,
Jerry Richardson
Earlier Monday, several NFL players, including Byron Maxwell, Calvin Johnson and Ben Watson spoke out against the tragedy and also called for the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Statehouse.
