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September 16, 2014

Open Letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Dear Mr. Goodell,

We, the undersigned members of the Black Women’s Roundtable, an intergenerational network of women leaders representing Black women and girls from across the country are writing to request an emergency meeting with you to share our deep concern and outrage about the plethora of domestic violence cases that has been exposed involving current and past players that are a part of the National Football League (NFL). In addition, we would like to discuss your recent decision to establish an advisory group of women to assist you in developing new policies to eradicate domestic violence within the NFL; and other diversity issues within the NFL.

The Black Women’s Roundtable appreciates the fact that the NFL has established an advisory group of women to assist in “development and implementation of the league’s policies, resources and outreach on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault.” However, your lack of inclusion of women of color, especially Black women who are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault; and the fact that over 66% of the NFL players are made up of African Americans is unacceptable.

The Black Women’s Roundtable 2014 Report released in March 2014 found that Black women are the most likely group of women in America to experience domestic violence. Further, we are nearly three times as likely to die as a result of domestic violence than white women. And while we are only 8% of the population, we make up 22% of the homicides that result from domestic violence and 29% of all women who are victimized. In fact, domestic violence is the leading causes of death for Black women between the ages of 15 to 35, yet we are less likely than others to seek help when we are abused.

As a result of the specific circumstances of Black women and the fact that the majority of the players in the NFL are African American, addressing this issue in a culturally competent way requires the inclusion of Black women.

The Black Women’s Roundtable has been in constant consultation with other civil rights and domestic violence women of color organizations including leaders of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community, National Urban League, National Action Network, National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault, National African American Clergy Network and others; and we will share with you additional recommendations in the coming days.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of our urgent request to meet with you and your colleagues at the NFL. We will follow-up with your office and look forward to meeting with you at your earliest convenience to share with you our recommendations to ensure that the NFL gets it right moving forward.

Sincerely,

Melanie L. Campbell
President & CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation &
Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable

Condencia Brade
Executive Director, National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault

Clayola Brown
President, A. Philip Randolph Institute

Karma Cottman
Executive Director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Rev. Marcia Dyson
CEO and Founder, Women’s Global Initiative

Edrea Davis
Founder, DogonVillage.com

Felicia Davis
Director, Building Green Initiative at CAU

Lisa Fager
President & Co-Founder, Industry Ears
Senior Advisor, Black Youth Vote!

Sheilia Umi Hankins
Co-Director, Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC)

Janaye Ingram
Acting National Executive Director, National Action Network

Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Ph.D.
President & CEO, Incite Unlimited, LLC

Carol Joyner
National Policy Director,Labor Project for Working Families Tamika Mallory
Former National Executive Director, National Action Network

Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore
Executive Director, Sisters Saving Ourselves NOW/Girls Excel on Purpose

Rene Redwood
CEO, Redwood Enterprise

Dr. Elsie L. Scott
Founding Director, Ronald W. Walters Leadership & Public Policy Center, Howard University

Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich, Ph.D.
President & CEO, Center for Community & Economic Justice

Susan L. Taylor
Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement and
Editor-In-Chief Emeritus, Essence Magazine

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner
Co-Chair, National African American Clergy Network,
Co-Founder & President, Skinner Leadership Institute

Teresa Younger
President & CEO, Ms. Foundation for Women