As media and players alike witnessed the historic work stoppage sparked by the Milwaukee Bucks’ protest after the shooting of Jacob Blake last week, voting registration and rights pushes sponsored by the NBA, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and individual players have taken a prominent place in conversations about the league.
Monday’s post-practice media availability session for the Boston Celtics was no exception, as starting point guard Kemba Walker was asked about how important voting was for him when he was a young adult of 18 or 19 years.
The UConn product — at that age, still suiting up for the Huskies in Storrs, Connecticut — was honest in his response.
Fake anti-NBA protest Larry Bird quote circulating in social media https://t.co/6vlwcHgGla
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 30, 2020
“To be honest, I didn’t know,” he began. “We don’t really know how important it is, especially at that age.”
“Where I’m from, nobody talks about going [to vote]. Nobody in school; they did not [tell] us to go out and vote. I can see why a lot of young kids haven’t voted in their lives, because that’s not something you see or hear about. So, I just commend my peers, man. These guys [are] special, special people.
[Chris Paul], [Andre] Iguodala, my brother Jaylen Brown, just to name a few. These guys are using their platform to a whole other level, and trying to help everyone around the world. ‘Get out there and vote’; it’s a very important message.”
“As a league, we’re trying to pass that message along,” he added.”
Asked what got him in the voting booth for the first time, Walker didn’t hesitate.
🗣️🗳️ Today's the day Massachusetts, GET OUT & VOTE!!
Find your voting location, research your ballot and more at https://t.co/bhJRSmhvWj
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 1, 2020
“Obama. No question — that’s it. I felt like he was the guy for the job, [and] obviously, he’s an African-American guy,” noted the Bronx native.
“I went to see him in office,” he added, humbly glossing over the wild NCAA postseason ride that vaulted him into national prominence — and a trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — after Connecticut won the national championship in 2011 ahead of Obama’s re-election bid in 2012.
While most of us won’t have a visit to the Oval Office to inspire us to get out and vote, we absolutely need to. No matter who you support or what you believe, if you don’t get out and vote, our future will be the worse for it.
And for those of us in Massachusetts, don’t forget the primaries are today!
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