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Michael Jordan made a rare foray into politics on Monday, addressing the rising tensions between African Americans and the police and announcing donations to support positive community policing.

“As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers,” the former NBA star said in a letter published in The Undefeated, a start-up site focused on the intersection between sports, race and culture.

Although Jordan admitted his experiences with law enforcement might be different than those of other people of color, he hopes police relations with their communities can be mended “through peaceful dialogue and education.”

“Over the past three decades I have seen up close the dedication of the law enforcement officers who protect me and my family,” Jordan said. “We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.”

Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets, added that he would be making $1 million contributions to both the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

“The problems we face didn’t happen overnight and they won’t be solved tomorrow, but if we all work together, we can foster greater understanding, positive change and create a more peaceful world for ourselves, our children, our families and our communities,” Jordan wrote.

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