LeBron James Responds To Jacob Blake Shooting: ‘We Are Scared As Black People In America’

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August 25, 2020

TOPLINE

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James joined a growing list of athletes to publically voice frustration and anger after Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with James telling reporters Monday night, “we are scared as Black people in America.”

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Four … [+] of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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KEY FACTS

“Black men, Black women, Black kids, we are terrified,” James said following the Lakers’ blowout victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cellphone video footage of the incident shows Blake walking away from two officers who have their guns drawn, and, as Blake enters the driver’s side door of his vehicle, the nearest officer grabs the back of his shirt, and seven shots are fired.

“If you’re sitting here and telling me that there was no way to subdue that gentleman or detain him or just before the firing of guns, then you’re sitting here and lying to not only me, but you’re lying to every African American, every Black person in the community,” James said. “Because we see it over and over and over.”

New Orleans Saints All-Pro running back Alvin Kamara called the shooting “attempted murder,” while Utah Jazz star guard Donovan Mitchell tweeted: “F THE GAMES AND PLAYOFFS!!! THIS IS SICK AND IS A REAL PROBLEM WE DEMAND JUSTICE! ITS CRAZY I DONT HAVE ANY WORDS BUT WTF MAN! THIS IS WHY WE DONT FEEL SAFE!!!!”

George Hill of the Milwaukee Bucks (Milwaukee is 40 miles north of Kenosha) said Monday that it was a mistake to restart the 2020 NBA season in Orlando because it took the focus away from the social justice movement sweeping the country following the death of George Floyd.

“We shouldn’t have even came to this damn place, to be honest. I think coming just here took all the focal points off what the issues are,” Hill said. “We can’t do anything from right here, but I think definitely, when it’s all settled, some things have to be done.”

Critical Quote:

“If you watch the video, there were multiple moments where if they wanted to, they could’ve tackled him,” said LeBron James. “They could’ve grabbed him. You know? They could’ve done that. And why, why does it always have to get to a point where we see the guns firing?”

Key Background:

Jacob Blake’s father told the Chicago Sun-Times his son has “eight holes” in his body and is paralyzed from the waist down. As of Tuesday morning, doctors didn’t know if the paralysis would be permanent. Blake is reportedly now in a stable condition in a Milwaukee-area hospital. Protests broke out overnight Monday and into Tuesday morning in Kenosha, with police firing tear gas and pepper balls at demonstrators. Other U.S. cities, including Madison, Portland, Minneapolis and New York City, have also experienced renewed protests against police brutality and racism this week. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat who has condemned the use of excessive force by police officers, deployed the National Guard to Kenosha on Monday.

Tangent:

Last month, LeBron James spoke at length about being Black in America and using his considerable platform to advocate for social justice, calling for the arrest of the cops who fired the fatal bullets that killed Breonna Taylor. “As one of the leaders of this league, I want her family to know and the state of Kentucky to know that we feel for her and we want justice,” said James. “That’s what it’s all about. What’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.”

LeBron James Responds To Jacob Blake Shooting: ‘We Are Scared As Black People In America’

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