The violent protests in Charlotte, N.C., following another police-related death of a black man are just the beginning, if you ask Vikings cornerback Terence Newman.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, the 14-year NFL veteran said he’s concerned the United States is "moving toward another civil rights war — literally, black and white and Mexican and Asian, everybody’s going to be fighting against each other."
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Instead of offering more of his own thoughts on the situation, he turned several questions on the reporters.
"You guys come in here every day and ask us about (expletive) that doesn’t matter really and nobody asks about the situation. So what does that say? And I’m not being an ass. I’m just asking," he said, via the Star Tribune. "You guys have just as much influence as we do. Are you guys scared to say something? Are you guys scared to put your feelings out there?"
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Newman, 38, was in the thick of a police shooting controversy earlier this year with the death of Philando Castle in Falcon Heights, Minn. He will travel to Charlotte this weekend to face the Panthers.
"What about the unarmed civilians being killed?" he asked. "Do you think we have a problem? Do you think something needs to be done? Do you think there is definitely violence against black people from police?"