Bruins center Patrice Bergeron has donated $25,000 to the Boston NAACP. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Patrice Bergeron donates $25K to Boston NAACP: 'Silence is not an option for me anymore'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/3/20

In response to George Floyd's death, many athletes have began to speak out against racism and police brutality. While NHL teams and players were a little late to make statements condemning racial injustice, Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron may have had one of the most well-thought-out responses, and he's even making a generous donation totaling $50,000 -- $25,000 each to the Boston NAACP and Centre Multiethnique de Quebec in Canada.

A statement from Patrice Bergeron.

To those who wish to support:

NAACP Boston: https://t.co/uXXPUDXivO

Centre Multiethnique de Quebec: https://t.co/aS9a57RWOi pic.twitter.com/IVKU1hMNd6
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 3, 2020

Bergeron, a leader in the Bruins locker room, also has garnered the respect of players throughout the NHL. During a 2013 match against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bergeron assisted an EMT onto the TD Garden ice with a stretcher to transport an injured Brooks Orpik to Mass General Hospital.

The four-time Selke winner also was honored with a community service award in 2014, hosts an annual "Pucks and Paddles" ping pong tournament for charity and created the "Patrice's Pals" program which brings patients from local hospitals and other children's organizations to TD Garden to experience a Bruins home game in a VIP suite.

Bergeron's donation comes after Floyd, an African American man, died last week while being violently apprehended by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

The 46-year-old was pinned to the ground by Chauvin, who then proceeded to kneel on his neck and prevent him from breathing. Floyd pleaded for his life and even told officer Chauvin he couldn't breathe, but Chauvin refused to move off his neck.

Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital, and Chauvin was arrested Friday on charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

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