Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett alleged in a Twitter post Wednesday morning, that Las Vegas police officers forced him to the ground, held a gun to his head, and threatened to “blow my f-ing head off.“
The alleged incident occurred last Saturday night, as Bennett was leaving the fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. According to Bennett, there was a loud bang, similar to a gunshot, at which point Bennett began running to safety. However, at some point, an officer pulled a gun on Bennett, forced him to the ground, threatening to shoot if he moved. Another officer then entered the scene, according to Bennett, put his knee in Bennett’s back, handcuffed him, and put him in the back of a police cruiser.
Bennett wrote in his statement, “The Officers’ excessive use of force was unbearable. I felt helpless as I lay there on the ground handcuffed facing the real-life threat of being killed. All I could think of was “I’m going to die for no other reason than I am black and my skin color is somehow a threat.’ My life flashed before my eyes as I thought of my girls. Would I ever play with them again? Or watch them have kids? Or be able to kiss my wife again and tell her I love her.”
Bennett, who has been one of the NFL’s more outspoken anthem protesters, then tied the alleged incident into the reasons why he protests: “I sit during the national anthem-because equality doesn’t live in this country and no matter how much money you make, what job title you have, or how much you give, when you are seen as a N—–, you will be treated that way.”
The Las Vegas Police Department has not yet issues a statement on the incident. Bennett’s entire statement can be read here.