Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players left the track of American Airlines Arena in the minutes before their Wednesday game on ESPN.
They returned to take part in warm-ups, but only held a players meeting between members of both teams in the Heat locker room. according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The meeting came hours after a crowd of mostly white President Donald Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol in an attempt to overthrow President Joe Biden’s election and a day after prosecutors failed to file charges against police officer Jacob Blake was shot several times. back in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Players returned to the track in time for warm-up. They knelt during the national anthem and a joint statement announced protest against systemic treatment of Black Americans compared to law enforcement’s muted response to the Washington DC mob
Members of the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons also took a knee during the game of their Wednesday game in Milwaukee. Players from Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors closed their arms in midfield during the national anthem.
“Some things have not changed”
“2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed,” the statement said. ‘We are playing tonight with a heavy heart after yesterday’s decision in Kenosha, and the knowledge that protesters in our country’s capital are treated differently by political leaders, depending on which side of certain issues they have.
‘The drastic difference between the way protesters were treated this past spring and summer, and the encouragement given by today’s protesters who acted illegally, shows just how much more work we need to do.
‘We decided to play tonight’s game to give people’s lives joy. But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything in our power to work for a more equal and just America.
“#BLACKLIVESSTILLMATTER”
Scenes from the Capitol caused outrage
Where protests against systemic violence against Black Americans have repeatedly met with more violence this summer, scenes of police officers taking selfies with rioters and walking down the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday.
Law enforcers appear to have used tear gas to disperse rioters on the Capitol balcony long after they invaded.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers, along with other NBA coaches, addressed the difference in police action on Wednesday.
“When you saw the protests in the summer, you saw the riots or more the police and the national guard and the military,” Rivers said. ‘And then you see it and you see nothing. It basically proves the point of a privileged life in many ways.
‘I would say that because I do not think many people want to do it. Can you imagine today if it was only black people storming the Capitol and what would have happened? ‘
NBC News reports this 15 arrests were made from Washington Wednesday in Washington.
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