UltraViolet Calls on the Philadelphia Eagles to Block Josh Sills From Playing in Super Bowl LVII After Rape & Kidnapping Indictment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 1, 2023
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Calls on the Philadelphia Eagles to Block Josh Sills From Playing in Super Bowl LVII After Rape & Kidnapping Indictment
Gender Justice Group Says NFL’s Refusal to Eliminate Sexual Abusers From Its Ranks Highlight Ongoing Failures of Roger Goodell’s Leadership
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Earlier today, Ohio’s Attorney General announced the indictment of Joshua Sills, an offensive guard for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping, both first-degree felonies.
In response, Bridget Todd, director of communications for UltraViolet, a leading national gender justice organization, issued the following statement:
“Sexual abusers have no place playing in professional sports – and certainly not on the world’s biggest stage, the Super Bowl. We urge the Philadelphia Eagles to immediately suspend Joshua Stills and bar him from playing in the Super Bowl.
“The accusations against Sills filed by the Attorney General of Ohio earlier today are very serious, with long-term impacts on the survivor of his abuse. Sills should not be allowed to represent Philadelphia, or the NFL, in the Super Bowl later this month.
“For years, we have warned that the enabling of sexual abusers within the ranks of the NFL is not acceptable – this latest incident highlights the ongoing failure of Roger Goodell’s leadership in addressing the issue.”
In 2015, UltraViolet called for Commissioner Roger Goodell to be fired for failing to protect women working for the NFL. UltraViolet ran the #GoodellMustGo campaign, which included plane banners and advertisements carrying the message during NFC and AFC championship games and the Super Bowl.
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