The Eagles didn’t let DeSean Jackson’s post go unpunished.
The team announced in a statement Friday that they “penalized” the wide receiver after he posted anti-Semitic quotes incorrectly attributed to Adolf Hitler on his social media this week. According to NFL Network, Jackson was fined for conduct detrimental to the team. Jackson has since apologized and begun an attempt to better educate himself. The Eagles did not specify what Jackson’s exact punishment is.
“We have had a number of constructive conversations over the last few days, not only with DeSean Jackson, but also with many other players, members of the organization, and leaders in the community,” the Eagles said in a statement. “That has led us to the point where we and he are ready to take the next steps.
“Today we have penalized DeSean for conduct detrimental to the team. He accepted these consequences and apologized. In our many conversations with him, it has also been made clear that this is only the beginning. We have discussed a concrete plan for how we and he can heal moving forward. He understands that in order to remain on the team, he must also commit to supporting his words with actions. We have been encouraged by his desire to educate himself, but we all understand that there is still a lot of work to be done. We will continue to assist DeSean in this process, and we also know that all of us in our organization need to listen and learn more about things that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable to us.
“We must continue to fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination, while not losing sight of the important battle against systemic racism.
Jackson continued the process of educating himself Friday by meeting with a group that fights against anti-Semitism, according to ESPN. He also met with 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Edward Mosberg via video conference. Jackson posted a photo of the call to his Instagram account. He also agreed to accompany Mosberg to the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, according to a tweet from Jonny Daniels, the founder of From The Depths — an organization Mosberg is the honorary chairman of that aims to educate people on the Holocaust.
“Thank you Mr. Mosberg for your valuable time and insight today,” Jackson wrote in the caption of the photo. “Im taking this time to continue with educating myself and bridging the gap between different cultures, communities & religions. LOVE 2 ALL!!!!! TO BE CONTINUED …..”
All of this comes after the 33-year old Jackson posted anti-Semitic quotes attributed to Hitler that accused Jews of blackmailing and extorting America. He also endorsed a speech from Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam who “routinely accuses Jews of manipulating the U.S. government and controlling the levers of world power,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Eagles made it clear they expect better of Jackson.
“This has been a difficult and emotional week for our community and organization,” the Eagles said the statement. “The Philadelphia Eagles do not tolerate hate towards any individual or group. We believe in respect and equality for all races, ethnicities, and faiths. We as an organization want to help be an instrument for positive change. This can only occur through strong, deliberate actions and a commitment to learn and grow.”
