NBA and NFL players and coaches speak out after a 29-year-old Black man was shot Sunday by Kenosha police. Jacob Blake was shot several times in the back as he tried to enter his car.
Blake was taken to a Milwaukee hospital and is in serious condition, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The shooting was recorded on video and shared on social media. The footage – which is both disturbing and graphic – was shared by some athletes, expressing anger and frustration after another Black person was shot by police.
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz Watchman, said shooting Blake is another example of why black people “do not feel safe.”
Read Mitchell’s full tweet:
“F THE GAMES AND PLAYOFFS !!! THIS IS SICK AND IS AN REAL PROBLEM IMPORTANT JUSTICE FREE! IT CRAZY I HAVE NO WORDS BUT WTF MAN! THIS IS WHY WE FEEL SENSE !!!! ”
tweet is graphic). “data-reactid =” 27 “> Mitchell’s tweet included a video of Blake shooting (Warning: de tweet is graphic).
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made a similar statement on Twitter:
‘And you wonder why we say what we say about the police !! Someone please tell me WTF is this ??? !!! Exactly 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. ”
included a link to the graphic video. “data-reactid =” 31 “>Warning: James’ tweet too included a link to the graphic video.
James also linked to the video on his Instagram story.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer addressed the shooting during his news conference Monday. Budenholzer, 55, said, “We need to change.”
Mike Budenholzer opens his first-name 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 need to be better.”
– Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 24, 2020
The Bucks released a statement Monday, saying the team is “firmly opposed to the recurring problems of excessive use of force and immediate escalation in engaging the Black community.”
The Bucks added that they “will continue to stand up for all black lives because we demand responsibility and systemic change on behalf of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sylville Smith, Ernest Lacy, Dontre Hamilton, Tony Robinson, Joel Acevedo and countless other victims . “
NFL players express frustration over Jacob Blake shooting
Saints receiver Michael Thomas, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Tyrann Mathieu all tweeted about the shooting.
Stop killing unarmed black people.
– Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) August 24, 2020
3 officers, 1 man? And the only way to subdue 1 man was to shoot 7 rounds …
– cameron jordan (@ camjordan94) August 24, 2020
Damn they shot that man 7 times …. why can’t 3 officers suppress one man? I really need answers, if you respond to everything ……
– Tyrant Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) August 24, 2020
#Packers Aaron Rodgers: “There are old-fashioned laws that prejudice people of color in this state.”
– Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) August 24, 2020
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
