Michael Jordan "Can No Longer Stay Silent" on Police Shootings, Makes $2 Million Donation

NBA legend is "saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late"

Being a public figure and a politician isn't necessarily one and the same.

There are plenty of entertainers and athletes who choose to use their platform to highlight particular issues or events of their choosing, but some celebrities try to keep their political views wholly separate from their public image.

For many years, Michael Jordan was criticized for not taking a more prominent stance on varying social issues. But now, given the rash of police shootings and troubled race relations in America, the 53-year-old NBA legend is speaking out.

In a lengthy statement to The Undefeated, Jordan explains why he "can no longer stay silent." He also reveals his reasoning for donating $1 million to the the International Association of Chiefs of Police's newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and another $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

"As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence [Jordan's father James R. Jordan was murdered in 1993 on the side of a North Carolina highway], and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers," said Jordan. "I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well."

In Jordan's statement to The Undefeated, he explained he "was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late."

"I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent," said Jordan. "We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers–who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all–are respected and supported."

Jordan has "the greatest respect for [the] sacrifice and service" of the law enforcement officers he's encountered throughout his life and career, but he can "also recognize that for many people of color their experiences with law enforcement have been different than mine." For that reason, he explained, he's "decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change."

He went on to tell The Undefeated how he hopes his donations will be put to work by each organization: "The Institute for Community-Police Relations' policy and oversight work is focused on building trust and promoting best practices in community policing. My donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the nation's oldest civil rights law organization, will support its ongoing work in support of reforms that will build trust and respect between communities and law enforcement. Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organizations make a positive difference."