Several members of the Boston Celtics joined other athletes and celebrities to weigh in on their feelings about the death of security guard George Floyd, who died after being placed in a chokehold and having his neck kneeled upon by an arresting officer in Minnesota.
Video shows the 46-year-old pleading for his life while being kneeled on, which continued after the man ceased moving.
The incident has sparked protests in the city of Minneapolis where the arrest occurred — for alleged charges of forgery — and considerable anger in the African American community and beyond.
Celtics reserve point guard Brad Wanamaker retweeted an article relating the officers involved in the arrest had been fired:
— Brad Wanamaker (@phillybul_22) May 27, 2020
And veteran center Enes Kanter responded by posting anti-racism messages on his Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsscdhlX9s/
Grant Williams retweeted Philadelphia 76ers wing Tobias Harris:
Heartbroken at this, bystanders can't go tackle the officer off the man because we know how that would play out. Only one here to help is the other officer standing there letting it all happen. SHAME!!!! https://t.co/ljDSBdH1SB
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) May 26, 2020
And forward Semi Ojeleye shared a prayer:
Fourth-year shooting guard Jaylen Brown responded at length on both his Instagram and Twitter.
On the latter, he retweeted a Black Lives Matter tweet admonishing people to seek justice for Floyd’s death.
His name was George Floyd. Say his name. Pray for his family. Demand Justice. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) May 26, 2020
and he also posted an image of Floyd calling for the same on Instagram:
while saying “If I was in attendance I would have been arrested for sure,” in a retweet of a graphic video showing the arresting officer putting his knee on the neck of the deceased.
He also had a discussion on the term “Karen”
Karen is an example of someone who was aware of her privilege and the biases and prejudices against black men and she decided to weaponize it !! she should be arrested losing her job is not enough
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) May 27, 2020
in reference to a separate incident where a woman threatened to call the police on a black man in Manhattan’s Central Park after the man asked her to put her dog on a leash in a part of the park where pets are not allowed to roam without being on a leash.
But racism doesn’t exist anymore 🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/owjLqlLyE2
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) May 27, 2020
Brown also retweeted a post suggesting the woman in question ought to be jailed for her actions.
Amy Cooper should go to jail. She attempted to use police bias as a deadly weapon against an unarmed black man. She falsely heightened her voice to sound like she was in imminent danger. She could have gotten him killed & she knew it. It's beyond disgusting, it's criminal.
— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) May 27, 2020
Many other NBA players and alumi, athletes and media figures in other pro sports and other public figures also weighed in on both racially-charged incidents.
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