When it comes to making a statement on social injustice, Cam Newton says he faces a "lose-lose" situation. On Sunday, the reigning NFL MVP decided to take a chance with some sort of action. Newton wore all black during warmups for the Panthers-Vikings game.
The back of Newton's shirt reads, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The line comes from Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham jail.
On Wednesday, one day after the police shooting of Keith Lamont Shot, a 43-year-old African-American man in Charlotte, Newton addressed the uncertainty of his role as a local celebrity.
"The place that I stand, sometimes it’s a lose-lose (situation)," Newton said. "You say something in one sense and everybody is saying 'you're a traitor.' You say something in another sense and 'oh, he's just too real.'
" … I'm in a position now where it’s like, if I say something, it's going to be critiqued. And if I don't say something, 'oh, you fake.' … I'm a firm believer of justice. I'm a firm believer of doing the right thing. And I can't repeat it enough; of just holding people accountable. I'm an African-American. I am not happy with how justice has kind of been dealt with over the years -- the state of oppression in our community."
Demonstrations have continued through the weekend and protesters were present at Bank of American Stadium before the game Sunday.
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.
