Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill wants to be a force for change following the harrowing experience of being stopped by police and handcuffed on his way to a game.
The 30-year-old NFL star still managed to make the game and scored an 80-yard touchdown but after bodycam footage of the incident was released, Hill took to social media with a simple four-word comment: “Let’s make a change.”
Let’s make a change
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) September 10, 2024
In an interview on CNN Monday, Hill elaborated on what he meant by his message and the experience overall.
“I’m not a big believer in dividing people,” he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday after commenting on the bodycam footage.
“I don’t believe in all that. I believe in bringing people together because that’s my purpose in life. I do football camps all across the world trying to bring different people together … because we in this together, baby. We’re on this Earth together. We gotta live together,” Hill continued.
“So, when I say, ‘Let’s make a change,’ let’s do it together. So, Miami PD, really all officers across the world, one officer doesn’t make the whole group look bad. Everybody has bad apples. Every team has bad apples. It’s my job to use my platform and my resources so that way I’m able to align with these different stations,” he added.
“We done tried it all. We done protest. We even took a knee. We done did walks. So what’s next? Me and my wife are brainstorming on how we can be a part of this change. It’s important to us. We want to be able to change lives all across the world – not just Miami,” Hill said.
Miami-Dade police released the bodycam footage earlier on Monday and showed the moments that escalated from officers stopping Hill, taking him out of his vehicle, and then handcuffing him.
Watch: Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill taken down by police on way to NFL season opening game https://t.co/fk3KPnNUHv via @americanwire_
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) September 8, 2024
“Upon being stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs.” Steadman Stahl of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association told CNN in a statement.
“Mr. Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground. Once the situation was sorted out within a few minutes, Mr. Hill was issued two traffic citations and was free to leave.” the statement continued, “In this case, while we will wait for the investigation to run its course, based on what we know, we stand with the actions of our officers but look forward to further open communication moving forward.”
The Dolphins said they were “saddened by the overly aggressive and violent conduct directed towards Tyreek Hill, Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith by police officers before yesterday’s game.”
“It is both maddening and heartbreaking to watch the very people we trust to protect our community and use such unnecessary force and hostility towards these players, yet it is also a reminder that not every situation like this ends in peace, as we are grateful this one did. ‘What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?’ is a question that will carry with resounding impact,” the team said.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 10, 2024
“We are proud to have a strong and positive relationship with the Miami-Dade Police Department and other law enforcement agencies and recognize that the vast majority of officers do serve the community with the utmost character and desire to protect all citizens,” the team continued, calling out the few officers who “serve with misguided power.”
They called on the Miami-Dade Police Department “to take equally swift and strong action against the officers who engaged in such despicable behavior.”
Hill, who did a mocking handcuff move after scoring his touchdown Sunday, told CNN that things may have turned out differently for him if he was not a celebrity athlete.
