As #FreeWoj catches fire on social media platforms over the ESPN suspension of Adrian Wojnarowski, former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers waded into the fray behind the suspension himself Sunday.
The ex-Celtics coach challenged the U.S. Senator who received a profane email in response to the suggestion pro-police slogans be allowed along with the pro-racial justice slogans the league negotiated with the National Basketball Players Association as one condition of restarting the 2019-20 season.
The email to the Senator — Josh Hawley (R) of Missouri — saw Wojnarowski suspended, and sparked a #FreeWoj campaign on social media over the weekend, with players around the league tweeting their support.
Boston's Enes Kanter tweets in support of Woj after ESPN suspension https://t.co/6mUVOTcqYY via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 12, 2020
Including Boston’s Enes Kanter, known for his constant support of human rights.
“We have a senator that Tweets at Woj yesterday just because he was talking about what we were going to put on the back of our jersey,” Rivers offered in a conference call at the NBA Disney campus. “And they always try to turn it into the military or the police. There’s no league that does more for the military than the NBA.”
Angry at the derailing of a program that, in some eyes, already does not provide enough input for player ideas about racial justice messaging, Rivers instead challenged the Senator directly.
#NBATwitter finding out @espn suspended Woj #FreeWoj
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) July 12, 2020
“I’ll make a challenge: We will do things for the troops as long as he acknowledges Black Lives Matter,” explained the now-Los Angeles Clippers head coach. “I think that would be really cool for him to do.”
“It’s funny, whenever we talk about justice, people try to change the message. Colin Kaepernick kneels, it had nothing to do with the troops. It had to do with social injustice, and everyone tried to change the narrative. How about staying on what we are talking about and dealing with that, instead of trying to trick us or change or trick your constituents? How about being real?”
“I guarantee you, we’ve done more for the military than probably that Senator,” claimed Rivers. “I guarantee you this: We also are going to do things for Black Lives Matter. How about him?
“Maybe he should join … that,” he added.
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