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NBA and NFL players and coaches speak out after a 29-year-old black man was shot dead by Kenosha police on Sunday. Jacob Blake was shot several times in the back as he attempted to enter his vehicle.
Blake was taken to a Milwaukee hospital and is in serious condition, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The shoot was filmed and shared on social media. The footage – which is both disturbing and graphic – was shared by some athletes, who expressed anger and frustration after another black person was shot dead by police.
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said the Blake shooting is another example of why black people “don’t feel safe.”
Mitchell’s full tweet read:
“F THE GAMES AND THE PLAYOFFS !!! THIS IS SICK AND IT IS A REAL PROBLEM WE CALL FOR JUSTICE! ITS CRAZY I HAVE NO WORDS BUT WTF MAN! THIS IS WHY WE ARE NOT SAFE !!!! “
Mitchell’s tweet included a video of Blake’s set (Warning: The the tweet is graphic).
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made a similar statement on Twitter:
“And you all wonder why we say what we say about the police !! Someone please tell me WTF is this ??? !!! Exactly another targeted black man. This shit is so wrong and so sad !! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE !! We want JUSTICE. “
Warning: James’s tweet too included a link to video graphics.
James also linked to the video on his Instagram story.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer spoke about the shooting at his press conference on Monday. Budenholzer, 55, said: “We have to change.”
Mike Budenholzer opens his pre-game press conference by talking about Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man who was shot in the back by Wisconsin police. “We need change,” Budenholzer said. “We have to be better.”
– Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) Aug 24, 2020
The Bucks released a statement on Monday saying the team stood firmly against recurring issues of excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging the black community.
The Bucks added that they “will continue to stand up for all black lives as we demand accountability and systemic change on behalf of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sylville Smith, Ernest Lacy, Dont Hamilton, Tony Robinson, Joel Acevedo and countless other victims.
NFL players express frustration over Jacob Blake shot
A number of NFL players have tweeted about Blake’s shot. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara called the shooting an “attempted murder” and added that he was begging Blake to survive. Warning: Kamara’s tweet too included a link to the video of the shoot.
Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Tyrann Mathieu have all tweeted about the shootout.
Stop killing unarmed black people.
– Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) Aug 24, 2020
3 officers, 1 man? And the only way to control 1 man was to fire 7 bullets …
– cameron jordan (@ camjordan94) Aug 24, 2020
Damn they shot this man 7 times … why can’t 3 officers overpower a man? I really need answers, you comment on everything else ……
– Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) Aug 24, 2020
#Packers Aaron Rodgers: “There are outdated laws that are detrimental to people of color in this state.”
– Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) Aug 24, 2020
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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