The NFL releases PSA on Sacramento’s Stephon Clark highlighting activism

On Tuesday, the NFL and Inspire Change unveiled a public service announcement about Stephon Clark, an unarmed 22-year-old who was fatally shot and killed in his grandmother’s backyard in Meadow View by two Sacramento Police Department officers.

The PSA is narrated by Se’Quette Clark — Stephon’s mother.

“With sincerity and gratitude, I would like to thank Roc Nation and the NFL for choosing to honor the life of my son, Stephon Clark, who was unjustly stolen from us on March 18, 2018, by Sac PD officers Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet who are still employed and patrolling our streets,” Se’Quette Clark said in a news release. “As a mother, I can’t help the immense feeling of pride; knowing my son’s life will affect so many people for generations to come.

“Since my son was murdered, my family has been extremely dedicated to social justice reform through our footwork in this new Civil Rights Movement; my son, Stevante Clark emerging as a Civil Rights Leader in the movement; my mother, Sequita Thompson, and my membership in the Mothers of the Movement; our foundation I Am SAC (Stephon Alonzo Clark) and Stephon Clark Legacy; our weekly actionable, solutions platform titled Stephon Clark Sunday; and last but not least, the passing of The Stephon Clark Law (AB392) in California which holds police accountable for killing people when they did not pose a deadly threat and charging the officers in criminal court.”

The video is the fifth produced by Roc Nation and the NFL to help raise awareness in communities to end systemic racism. Roc Nation is Jay-Z’s artist and athlete management company. Roc Nation has at least 12 clients in the NFL. The first PSA the coalition put out was about Danroy “DJ” Henry, who was a Pace University football player fatally shot by a police officer on Oct. 17, 2010.

“We want to continue to raise awareness for victims of systemic racism to ensure their stories are not forgotten,” the NFL’s Anna Isaacson said in the release. “As part of Inspire Change, we will use our platform to recognize these individuals throughout history and support organizations that foster positive relationships between law enforcement and their communities.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 2:24 PM.