Some of the NBA’s biggest personalities — including LeBron James and Stephen Curry — have used their voices to let the public know where they stand with respect to the black lives protests that have been happening across the United States over the past week.
On Wednesday morning, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Danilo Gallinari joined them.
Gallinari, a 12-year NBA veteran, has emerged as a powerful voice for NBA players.
An Italian national, the devastation of the coronavirus was experienced in his homeland long before the United States became the epicenter of the global crisis. He advocated awareness of the disease and for people across the country to adhere to stay-at-home orders.
Now, he’s lent his voice to another cause.
On Wednesday morning, Gallinari tweeted a plea on behalf of the black community.
“‘I can’t breathe.’ I don’t want to hear these words anymore. Enough is enough. My black friends, teammates, and the black community in this country have been prejudiced by race, sociological and economic inequality for generations and it needs to end now. We must educate ourselves,” he said via Tweet.
I can't breathe.” I don't want to hear these words anymore. Enough is enough. My black friends, teammates, and the black community in this country have been prejudiced by race, sociological and economic inequality for generations and it needs to end now. We must educate ourselves pic.twitter.com/Zlluy1IRcA
— DANILO GALLINARI (@gallinari8888) June 3, 2020
Although Gallinari didn’t mention Floyd by name, the words “I can’t breathe,” are among the last spoken by Mr. Floyd before his death. They have since become a rallying cry for protestors across the nation.
Now, Gallinari can be mentioned among them.