MICHAEL JORDAN has donated £1.5million to two charities to help improve relations between police and communities.
It comes after the former NBA star said “he could no longer stay silent” in the wake of a series of high-profile shootings between black people and police in the US.
The Chicago Bull’s all-time leading scorer had been criticised throughout his career for failing to speak out over political issues.
His father, James Jordan, was shot dead in 1993 at as roadside stop by two teenagers.
But the 53-year-old, who is thought to be worth around £900m, has spoken out over the recent violence and has vowed to help.
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“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, 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,” Jordan told The Undefeated.
“I have decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change.”
Jordan’s donations will be divided to both the Institute for Community Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defence Fund.
“Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organisations make a positive difference.” he continued.
Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA players to grace the game and boasts a whole host of accolades including finishing NBA Champions six times and being named NBA All-Star a staggering 14 times.
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