Jemele Hill, a former ESPN personality and current contributing writer for The Atlantic, hinted at a connection to Donald Trump in the wake of the arrest of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Sunday.
The NFL player was arrested during a traffic stop with Miami-Dade police officers before the Dolphins-Jacksonville Jaguars game. A video shows Hill handcuffed on the ground in an intense moment with the officers. One of the officers was later assigned to “administrative duties.”
The columnist launched a theory about X's arrest.
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Jemele Hill on the red carpet at ESPN The Party in Houston, Texas on February 3, 2017. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
“A reminder that Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is a huge supporter of Donald Trump, the same Trump who supports immunity from prosecution for ALL police officers,” Hill wrote. “Do with that what you will.”
Ross hosted a fundraiser for Trump in 2019, which sparked backlash toward some of the companies he invested in, including Equinox and SoulCycle.
Ross also founded the RISE program, a “national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, advocate for social justice and improve race relations,” according to its website. He stepped down from the board in 2022 and was named an emeritus board member.
In April, Trump promised to provide police officers with a blanket of protection following the death of New York police officer Jonathan Diller. Trump promised to “restore law and order” and “compensate” and “protect” law enforcement.
Trump was asked again about his stance at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in July when the case of Sonya Massey, who was killed during an incident with officers in Illinois, was discussed.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross reacts after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8, 2024. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
He said he would help a person who “made an innocent mistake,” according to Fox 32 Chicago.
“If I felt or if a group of people felt that someone was being unfairly prosecuted because that person did a good job, maybe in connection with a crime, or made a mistake, an innocent mistake… I would want to help that person.
OFFICER DREW ROSENHAUS SAYS OFFICERS' HANDLING OF TYREEK HILL ARREST IS 'TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE'
“Sometimes you have less than a second to make a life-or-death decision, and sometimes very bad decisions are made. They're not made from an evil standpoint, but from a 'they made a mistake' standpoint.”
There was no indication that there was any plan involving Trump and Ross in the arrest of Tyreek Hill.
The South Florida Police Benevolent Association defended the officers involved in the incident. Police union president Steadman Stahl said Hill was detained for “officer safety after driving in a manner that put himself and others in great danger.”
“Upon being detained, Mr. Hill did not immediately cooperate with the officers on scene and, in accordance with policy and for his immediate safety, handcuffs were placed on him,” the statement read. “Mr. Hill, who remained uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground.”
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill speaks during a postgame news conference, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Stahl said Hill received two traffic tickets and reminded those involved with police officers to “obey lawful police commanders first and complain later.”
He added that “while we are confident in the actions that led to Mr. Hill's arrest, as with any investigation, we will wait for all the facts to be known, along with any explanation Mr. Hill may have for his actions that initiated this unfortunate incident.”
Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, called the incident “completely unacceptable” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“What happened to Tyreek at the stadium today is completely unacceptable,” he said. “Tyreek did not deserve to be treated in that manner by the police involved. Tyreek's legal team will be pursuing this matter on Tyreek's behalf and I am sure they will consider taking legal action.”
The wide receiver maintained he had “no idea” why police officers handcuffed him.
“I wasn't disrespectful because my mom didn't raise me that way,” Hill said. “I didn't say any bad words. I didn't do anything like that. Like I said, I'm still trying to figure it out, man.”
Dolphins fans show their support for wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the Jacksonville Jaguars game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Hill said he wondered what would have happened if he hadn't been an NFL player.
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“I don't want to bring race into it, but sometimes it gets a little iffy when you do,” he added. “What would have happened if it wasn't Tyreek Hill? God knows what that guy or those guys would have done. I was just making sure I did what my uncle always told me to do when I was in a situation like that: 'Just listen, put your hands on the wheel and just listen.'”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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