Kevin C. Cox / Associated Press
Prominent athletes have taken to social media to discuss the police shooting of Jacob Blake that happened Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“And you wonder why we say what we say about the police, “Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said in a post on his Twitter account. “Someone please tell me WTF is this ??? !!! Just another black man being targeted. This shit is so wrong and so sad !! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE !! We want JUSTICE “
Kenosha police officers fired multiple gunshots into the back of Blake, a Black man, for his three children, who were sitting in a car nearby. He has been admitted to hospital and is being considered in serious condition with life-threatening injuries.
The incident was videotaped and sparked protests in Wisconsin.
“While we do not yet have all the details, what we do know for sure is that he is not the first Black man or person who has been shot or wounded or mercilessly murdered at the hands of law enforcement individuals in our state like us. land, “Wisconsin Alderman Tony Evers said in a statement.
The shooting comes amid worldwide protests against racial injustice that followed the murder in May of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in Minneapolis.
Top players in the NFL, NBA and other sports leagues have joined these protests and have used their platforms to make a difference.
The leagues have also been involved in the protests, with the NBA allowing players to replace their names with social justice phrases on the backs of their uniforms. Donovan Mitchell wore “Say Her Name” on his sweater, referring to Breonna Taylor, who was killed in March by police officers in Louisville, Kentucky.
The WNBA also paid tribute to Taylor in her 2020 season.
Kenny Stills was one of the first NFL players to join Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality. While the NFL had been against the protest in the past, Commissioner Roger Goodell gave up talitten the league was wrong in not listening to players.
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