Tag: Breonna Taylor

Jaylen Brown: ‘We need to start using different words other than reform’

Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown thinks a shift in how we represent needed change in policing for Black and brown people is in order.

With the intense challenge of the latter rounds of the NBA Playoffs requiring intense concentration for success, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for outside interests.

But that doesn’t mean the rest of the world goes away, either.

For Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown, it hasn’t been easy to stay up to date with the news cycle outside of the NBA campus at the Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

So he had to be updated Wednesday by a reporter about a $12 million settlement granted the family of Breonna Taylor, killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky while executing a no-knock warrant in a situation that has since become emblematic of excessive use of police force.

“I’m not sure if that makes me feel any better or worse about the situation,” replied the Georgia native after being brought up to speed.

“I think Brionna to this situation represents, not just her and her family, but other people that fell victim to the system that has been orchestrated to keep Black and brown people oppressed. I guess that is a great step for them telling her family, but it’s also more of a thing that needs to be changed.”

Brown took issue with the word “reform” in particular when discussing the police policy changed that were included in the settlement agreement.

“I think that reform is the word that we use a lot,” he explained. “And we want to constantly see reform, but really, we’ve been saying that for a long time.”

“To be honest, we’ve been saying it for years. And if I wanted to reform my house you know I might upgrade my kitchen. I might change my garage. I might even do some outside but that doesn’t change [that] the house is the same. I think we need to start using different words other than reform, because reform is not the right energy I think that we are trying to present. I think that “recreate,” “dismantle” and things like that are words that we should maybe use, because it’s obvious that this incrementalism in this system has just been stringing us along year after year after year.”

Reform has been the topic of conversation, and some of the same things have happened,” Brown added.

“But people are still getting killed in their houses,” he explained, “in their backyards, outside of places that they spent time at and reform is not the word, so we need to find a new word.”

And perhaps a stronger, evidence-based package of interventions to go with whatever word best reflects the change that is so desperately needed.

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Derrick Henry’s suit pays tribute to Blacks killed by police

Derrick Henry of the Titans made a powerful statement with his suit Monday.

Derrick Henry made quite the political statement Sunday arriving at the airport in Denver as the Tennessee Titans got ready for their game against the Broncos on Monday night.

The Heisman winner from Alabama, who led the NFL in rushing in 2019, has a suit that spells out the names of Blacks killed by police in America.

Henry’s suit with honored the victims of racial injustice, including Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, and others.

It is stunning, to say the least. Quite the powerful statement.

Ben Burr-Kirven will pay tribute to Breonna Taylor with helmet decal

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven will honor Breonna Taylor with his helmet decal that the players are adopting for 2020.

The Seattle Seahawks will honor victims of racial injustice by American police by wearing decals on their helmets for the 2020 season. Several players are each honoring a different Black American who has been subject to racial injustice. Linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven told Seahawks.com that he will pay tribute to Breonna Taylor, one of the more prominent victims in the news.

“When somebody gets shot asleep in their house on a no-knock warrant, something has to change,” Burr-Kirven said. “The way the news cycle works, it’s easy for things to fall out of the news and for people to forget. And you can’t forget what happened, you have to make something change, so the best way to keep this in the news and keep people paying attention is to put in a place where millions of people are going to see it every weekend when we play.”

The Seahawks will play the Falcons in Atlanta on September 13 at 10:00 a.m. PT if all proceeds as planned.

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Golden State Warriors release statement in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake

The Golden State Warriors have released a statement following the NBA’s playoff protests in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake.

In a historic move on Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks stopped the sports world with the decision to boycott game five of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic.

In response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, Bucks players did not take the court against the Magic at the NBA’s Disney World campus. Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. 

After the Bucks protest, two other playoff games were boycotted. Game fives between the Trail Blazers-Lakers and the Thunder-Rockets were postponed. Players and teams from around the NBA shared messages of support for the Bucks’ decision.

The Golden State Warriors released a statement in the wake of the NBA protests and Blake shooting.

Via @warriors on Twitter:

The recent events in Kenosha, Wis., where yet another young Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by police, are appalling. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of an unacceptable pattern across our country, not only in recent months with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, but for many painful years. We support NBA players in taking actions designed to shed light and send a loud and clear message: enough is enough. We are united in our stance against racial injustice.

In a separate Tweet, the Warriors demanded change in their “Justice for Jacob” call. Golden State shared contact information for places to demand action for Blake.

Following the NBA player’s lead, Golden State’s Bay Area neighbors, the San Francisco Giants were apart of one of the three MLB games not to be played on Wednesday due to boycotts. The Giants game at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the Los Angeles Dodgers was postponed. 

Via @SFGiants on Twitter: 

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LeBron James wears shirt that says ‘8:46’ in honor of George Floyd

LeBron James rolled through to Monday night’s game with a statement on his shirt, made by Klutch Sports.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made a statement with his wardrobe, long before his team was scheduled to take on the Utah Jazz in an ESPN-televised game to cap off the 5th day of NBA action at the Walt Disney World campus.

James pulled up to Monday night’s game with a long-sleeved black t-shirt with graphic the right side of the chest with a stopwatch that is stopped on 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time that police officer Derek Chauvin spent with his knee on the neck of Minnesota’s George Floyd, who died as a result of the knee to the neck.

James showed fans a closer look at his photo on his Instagram page, with a clock that shows “8:46” in different timezones all over the world, showing that the Black Lives Matter movement is not just confined to the United States but is relevant all over the world.

The Lakers face-off against the Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz at 6 p.m. Monday.

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Shake Milton makes public plea for justice in case of Breonna Taylor

Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton makes another plea for justice for Breonna Taylor.

With the NBA resuming the 2019-20 season in the midst of a huge Civil Rights movement that continues to gain momentum, it can be hard to focus on basketball for these players who all have a stake in that movement. However, they can also use their platform to the best of their ability to keep the message going.

In the case of Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton, he used his platform in a big way on Sunday as he made a plea for justice in the case of Breonna Taylor who was killed while sleeping in her own home by police officers. No arrests have been made in the case and the Sixers have been loud in their disgust over no moves being made by Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron.

“I came here to just say to anybody out here watching or listening to me, keep fighting about what’s going on,” said Milton. “The iron right now is hot about what’s going on in this country. The racial injustices that are happening. I just wanted to say to Breonna Taylor’s family that we’re sorry that it’s taking so long. We know Daniel Cameron has the power so we need to keep pushing and to keep making his seat hot for him to make a decision.”

The Sixers took a knee along with their opponent–the Indiana Pacers–in peaceful protest during the National Anthem before their game on Saturday. Milton gave a sneak peek into what’s to come from the Sixers moving forward.

“The Sixers are putting together something,” he added. “We’re trying to educate people and then I think we’re going to break it down into pillars and hopefully, everybody gets to share something that’s important to them and what their why is. Along with educating people and putting that message out there, we’re going to give people tangible things that they can do for action. To make in their communities and take action. That’s our plan.”

Unfortunately, Taylor is far from the only case of police brutality. Milton wanted to let everybody know that he hasn’t forgotten about the other victims.

“I’m also going to say rest in peace to Breonna Taylor, rest in peace to Ahmaud Arbery, rest in peace to Kalief Browder as well so that’s all I have to say,” he added. [lawrence-related id=36035,36027,36017]

Sixers’ Tobias Harris once again calls for justice for Breonna Taylor

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris once again calls for justice for the killing of Breonna Taylor.

Philadelphia 76ers veteran Tobias Harris has continued to be the team’s leading activist. He has been a voice for those who cannot be heard and he has used his platform in the best way possible in a time where civil unrest has been at the forefront of America.

Harris recently called for Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron to take action and make an arrest of the police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville. Taylor was unarmed and killed in her own home by police officers on March 13.

Since then, no arrests have been made and after the team’s 90-83 scrimmage win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Harris once again pleaded to Cameron to make an arrest. He also did not hold back and he called out the officers by name.

“I have given that a lot of thought and that is to continue to push the message – justice for Breonna Taylor,” said Harris. “Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove need to be held accountable and we need justice for Breonna Taylor and I’ll continue to preach that message after every single game, so if you want to hear it I’m always here to do interviews and use my platform in the best way possible, but those individuals need to be held accountable. And that’s my message.”

Fellow veteran Mike Scott echoed Harris’ sentiments as a lot of people are fed up with the slowness of this investigation. Harris wants to make sure the pressure is put on Cameron moving forward.

“Right now we want Daniel Cameron to step up and arrest those names that I’ve just stated and take accountability for someone’s life that’s been taken away, unwillingly,” Harris added. “That’s where we’ll start. We’ll start right there and we’ll try to get justice the best way and in the greatest way possible for Breonna Taylor. So, to answer your question, that’s exactly where we’ll start.”

Harris and the Sixers will have their own social justice message when the season does officially resume on August 1. [lawrence-related id=35420,35413,35406]

LeBron James Demands Justice For Breonna Taylor in Post-Game Speech

LeBron James Demands Justice For Breonna Taylor in Post-Game Speech.James is using his mediaspotlight to “continue to shed light”on the unjust killing of Breonna Taylor,a 26-year-old Black woman.At his first post-game press conference since returningto the court, James barely spoke about the Los AngelesLakers’ scrimmage against the Dallas Mavericks.Instead, he repeatedlydemanded justice for Taylor.First of all, I want to continueto shed light on justice forBreonna Taylor and to her familyand everything that’s going onwith that situation, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.He then called for the arrest of her killers, three Kentucky policemen who raided her house while executing a no-knock warrant.We want the cops arrested whocommitted that crime … as oneof the leaders of this league, I wanther family to know, and I want thestate of Kentucky to know, that wefeel for her and we want justice, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.When asked about the “atmosphere” of the game,James pivoted his answer to speak about Taylor.The same energy that we had onthe floor is the same energy that wehave towards having justice forBreonna Taylor and her family …, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’

LeBron James Demands Justice For Breonna Taylor in Post-Game Speech.James is using his mediaspotlight to “continue to shed light”on the unjust killing of Breonna Taylor,a 26-year-old Black woman.At his first post-game press conference since returningto the court, James barely spoke about the Los AngelesLakers’ scrimmage against the Dallas Mavericks.Instead, he repeatedlydemanded justice for Taylor.First of all, I want to continueto shed light on justice forBreonna Taylor and to her familyand everything that’s going onwith that situation, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.He then called for the arrest of her killers, three Kentucky policemen who raided her house while executing a no-knock warrant.We want the cops arrested whocommitted that crime … as oneof the leaders of this league, I wanther family to know, and I want thestate of Kentucky to know, that wefeel for her and we want justice, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.When asked about the “atmosphere” of the game,James pivoted his answer to speak about Taylor.The same energy that we had onthe floor is the same energy that wehave towards having justice forBreonna Taylor and her family …, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’

LeBron James Demands Justice For Breonna Taylor in Post-Game Speech

LeBron James Demands Justice For Breonna Taylor in Post-Game Speech.James is using his mediaspotlight to “continue to shed light”on the unjust killing of Breonna Taylor,a 26-year-old Black woman.At his first post-game press conference since returningto the court, James barely spoke about the Los AngelesLakers’ scrimmage against the Dallas Mavericks.Instead, he repeatedlydemanded justice for Taylor.First of all, I want to continueto shed light on justice forBreonna Taylor and to her familyand everything that’s going onwith that situation, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.He then called for the arrest of her killers, three Kentucky policemen who raided her house while executing a no-knock warrant.We want the cops arrested whocommitted that crime … as oneof the leaders of this league, I wanther family to know, and I want thestate of Kentucky to know, that wefeel for her and we want justice, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.When asked about the “atmosphere” of the game,James pivoted his answer to speak about Taylor.The same energy that we had onthe floor is the same energy that wehave towards having justice forBreonna Taylor and her family …, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’

LeBron James Demands Justice For Breonna Taylor in Post-Game Speech.James is using his mediaspotlight to “continue to shed light”on the unjust killing of Breonna Taylor,a 26-year-old Black woman.At his first post-game press conference since returningto the court, James barely spoke about the Los AngelesLakers’ scrimmage against the Dallas Mavericks.Instead, he repeatedlydemanded justice for Taylor.First of all, I want to continueto shed light on justice forBreonna Taylor and to her familyand everything that’s going onwith that situation, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.He then called for the arrest of her killers, three Kentucky policemen who raided her house while executing a no-knock warrant.We want the cops arrested whocommitted that crime … as oneof the leaders of this league, I wanther family to know, and I want thestate of Kentucky to know, that wefeel for her and we want justice, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’.When asked about the “atmosphere” of the game,James pivoted his answer to speak about Taylor.The same energy that we had onthe floor is the same energy that wehave towards having justice forBreonna Taylor and her family …, LeBron James,via ‘Complex’

LeBron asks for justice for Breonna Taylor, discusses racial profiling after scrimmage

LeBron James joined a chorus of NBA players using their media press conferences as an opportunity to ask for justice for Breonna Taylor.

The Los Angeles Lakers played their first game against another team since March 10 on Thursday evening, but star player LeBron James immediately shifted the focus from the team’s first organized action against the Dallas Mavericks, to the ongoing call from NBA players who are asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Before answering questions about their scrimmage, which James said he was excited for earlier in the day, he wanted to make sure that it was clear he and other players want the policeman who shot and killed Taylor arrested. James also used the media session to discuss his willingness to speak out on issues he feels knowledgable about, particularly what it’s like to be discriminated against as Black man in America.

James held court, discussing racial injustice in the United States for almost 15 minutes. The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn uploaded all of the videos on YouTube.

James played 15 minutes, had 12 points and five assists in the scrimmage on Thursday, but by far his most important action was continuing the call from several other NBA players, such as Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, Portland’s CJ McCollum and even his teammate Alex Caruso, in demanding justice for Taylor and asking Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to take action in the case.

There have been no arrests made in Taylor’s death and only one of the officers has been let go by the Louisville Police Department.

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