Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie did not mince words when he spoke about the United States’ reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday.
“We have 4 of the world’s population, 21 of the deaths. There is a lot to understand,” he said, according to Albert Breer of MMQB. “… We are the richest country in the world – 21 of the dead? We are a disgrace. A tragic disgrace.”
To date, the United States has recorded 5.9 million known coronavirus cases and 182,982 recorded deaths, according to CNN.com. The two brands are the highest in the world.
Lurie said that he was not the NFL owner embarrassed by America in 2020:
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie says there is a “drastic change” in his teammates and calls on them to be agents of change. “They are ashamed in our country, ashamed and hurt.”
Lurie spoke about the history of systemic racism in the United States as protests continue across the country against racial discrimination and police brutality.
“We are going through two horrible pandemics, one that has lasted since the founding of our country,” Lurie said, through Bo Wulf of The Athletic. “… Systemic racism is our heritage as a country. We will not replace the bad until we have to recognize that we are guilty of it.”
He announced that Lincoln Financial Field would be open as a voting station for the November presidential election:
Lurie says Eagles will open LINC as a polling station, give workers a day off and hope they take the opportunity to volunteer. PA Notes is the “epicenter” of this election. “Vote has ramifications.”
Lurie also said that the team will not lay off any workers and spoke about the effect the coronavirus can have on the 2020 season: