CHARACTER COUNTS

Punter Marquette King brings Phoenix together to clean up after protests

Jun 1, 2020, 12:18 PM

A single Twitter post by punter Marquette King mobilized a group of Phoenix-area residents to clean up downtown after a night of peaceful protests turned destructive.

The group met Sunday morning to clean the city after protests of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police. Hundreds of arrests over the weekend came as looters disrupted protests and clashed with police.

King, who last played for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL, asked for strangers to meet him in downtown, the epicenter of the weekend protests.

12 News caught up with King’s group as volunteers picked up trash and scrubbed tagged paint off walls and windows of buildings.

Some of them, such as former Arizona State football player Robert Nelson, knew King from his football career. King last played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos in 2018 but spent 2012-17 with the Oakland Raiders.

Others simply found King’s post on Twitter and decided to help.

Afterward, King posted a picture of the group of volunteers and called the cleanup — and the joining of forces for good — a success.

“Today was a success. #GeorgeFloyd was a believer in peace and love as well as myself n everyone that was out here today helping people in Phoenix,” King wrote. “It’s ok to be different! I choose to make an impact in showing love n peace. Make a difference but be smart and calculated.”

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Punter Marquette King brings Phoenix together to clean up after protests