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Retired NFL player Brandon Marshall claimed racism was the issue when his confrontation with a community security guard in Florida prompted a call to the police.
The former Miami Dolphins wide receiver posted a video on social media of the alleged encounter with police and security guards as he tried to move into his new home in a gated community near Miami. Amid recent social justice stands by other sports figures and teams, Marshall’s video and suggestion that he was targeted because of his skin color set off a wave of angry responses coming to his defense.
But details about the incident and what led up to the beginning of the video are unclear and many other social media comments called out the 36-year-old for his projection of alleged racism.
“It’s Real!!! I was so disappointed in myself for getting so emotional with my kids in the car BUT then I realized that being numb isn’t an option anymore,” Marshall wrote in the caption to his video on Instagram, adding the hashtag #vote.
Marshall had pulled out his phone to record the exchange at some point after he apparently was not allowed to enter the Weston area gated community, where he was moving in, because his name was not on the list at the security desk.
The neighborhood is described on its website as an “exclusive gated enclave” featuring 125 single-family homes that currently sell at a starting price of about $1.6 million.
“This is the problem,” he could be heard saying in the video. “I come here, you feel uncomfortable. My first day moving into my new house, because my name’s not on the list, you call the cops. Now you call the cops.”
“I’m just trying to do my job,” one of the security guards, who is white, was heard responding.
“There was no threat for you to call the cops,” Marshall, who played 13 years in the NFL, said. “This is what we’re seeing every single day. This is what we’re seeing every single day. I got two kids in the car right now.”
Dude. Its not about your color. Stop seeking racism with a knee already bent to jerk into anger. Kids present? Show them how to thank the minimum wage gate security for doing his awful job and speak couteously to the supervisor. #thisisprivilidge use your blessings for good
— nobody (@surfmoma) August 29, 2020
The Broward Sheriff’s Office was apparently called and an officer is seen in the video, waving at the camera that was briefly aimed at him.
“The incident was resolved on scene between the two parties,” a BSO spokesperson told the Miami New Times in an email.
But the former Pro Bowler, who reportedly earned $80 million in his career with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets, continued his narrative on his social media account and in an interview with WSVN-TV.
“The reality is, people fear our skin. That’s the reality,” he said. “Like, just moved into a new house, and all I asked the guy was to call the front desk, ’cause literally just got our keys.”
In a separate post on Instagram, he weighed in on recent attention to the issue of racial injustice saying that protests “are great, but it can’t end there.”
“I’m tired of talking that leads to nowhere. I’m calling on powerful networks to take a chance and showcase the most important message in our country right now,” he said, calling on people to vote.
Despite the outcry from Marshall and many of those who supported his claims about his moving in day incident, many other Twitter users slammed the wealthy athlete for race-baiting over a justified issue in a gated community.
Shouldn’t he just put himself on the list though? Did he think his name would just justify not following protocol? Was he entitled to this? Again, people should just follow the rules and stop acting like they don’t apply to them.
— Jake (@hamil_jake) August 29, 2020
Judging by his tone, I seriously doubt they called the cops on him because he was being civil. Why does everything have to be about race?
— justin (@justinj24) August 28, 2020
Only person with a raised voice and acting aggressively is Marshall. My guess is that’s why the cops were called, not because he’s black. Stop with the race baiting. You’re 90% of the problem.
— Anthony Orio (@AnthonyOrio) August 29, 2020
No. Not true. I work security. Without proof. I could lose my job. Im not losing it over anyone!!!
Id call management and get it fixed. Being an athlete doesn’t mean shit. A security officer could make one mistake ans lose the account for all employees. No name. No enter.— 😷 Tony 😷 (@lightndns48) August 29, 2020
Just stop.
Literally everything is not about race, about being scared, sometimes people are human and make mistakes and don’t do their job. Including those in the HOA who most likely were the ones who didn’t do their job.
— br0therj0e (@br0therj0e) August 28, 2020
Its called security. Its literally their job. bUt mY SkIn cOlOr
— Haus (@HausSante) August 29, 2020
Why is this a problem? Someone messed up and didn’t put his name on a list.. now ita blown up because #brandonmarshall is #black if a neighbor moves in, and I dont know who they are and I call security I expect them to do their job.. the problem is him getting loud
— Nathan S (@Supanatdog) August 29, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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