Punter Marquette King brings Phoenix together to clean up after protests

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.

It’s a better way to do this so check this out! Since I’m a resident of AZ I’m gonna be in Downtown Phoenix around 10ish with gloves and trash bags cleaning up the city. All races are welcome to come clean the city with me. Officers should come too. Let’s get to kno each other ☮️

— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) May 31, 2020

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.

Need something uplifting today? @MarquetteKing posted on social media asking for help cleaning downtown PHX. He was joined by former @ASUFootball player @NELSON_ISLE and 15-20 others. They walked the streets for hours picking up and washing off whatever they could. #12Sports pic.twitter.com/rEhcbqCAFM

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) June 1, 2020

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. 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. pic.twitter.com/B5VupEOAzG

— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) May 31, 2020

“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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