DOLTON - State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) released the following statement on the NFL using race as a category to judge whether ex-players should be paid for head injury claims Wednesday:

"It's sickening that the National Football League uses race to determine concussion settlements. Black players who sustained injuries while playing deserve the same support as white players. This is further proof the NFL does not care about players' livelihoods after their football career is finished – but rather only when they can help the league.

“Nearly 70% of the league’s players are Black, yet a system has been created that holds Black players and white players to different standards. In other professions, distinctions based on race rise to the level of constitutional violations, so why is it ok for the NFL to put players in different groups based on race?

"The NFL needs to be advised on equality, and these players continue to advocate for long-term benefits after retirement. If current players do not get on top of this now, it will be a continuous cycle abused by the NFL.”