‘Tired Of The Killings’: Pro Athletes Refuse To Play Amid Racial Injustice Protests

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Officials stand beside an empty court at the scheduled start of an NBA basketball playoff game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic, Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Bucks didn’t take the floor in protest against racial injustice and the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Ashley Landis/AP

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Ashley Landis/AP

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The NBA’s most prominent player, LeBron James, was scheduled to play Wednesday with his Los Angeles Lakers hoping to clinch their first round series against Portland.

James, with 47 million Twitter followers, spoke for many athletes when he tweeted an expletive, and then this: «WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT.

The day after Blake was shot by police, the Bucks’ Hill echoed another growing sentiment felt by some players – frustration about living in the NBA’s pandemic-protected environment…referred to as the «bubble…near Orlando, Fla.

«We can’t do anything, Hill said in an interview. «First of all we shouldn’t even came to this damn place, to be honest. I think coming here just took all the focal points off of what the issues are.

That was a concern of some players before they arrived in Florida in early July. Those who’d taken part in nationwide demonstrations against police violence and social inequality following the death of George Floyd, or who’d spoken out on those issues, felt the strength of their messages might be lost as games started and connections to the outside world shrank.

In the aftermath of Blake’s shooting, the frustration grew.

The NBA bubble has been filled with reminders of social injustice – Black Lives Matter written on the basketball courts. Most players, and coaches, kneeling in protest during the playing of the national anthem and wearing jerseys and shirts with messages like «I Am A Man, «Education and «How Many More?

Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell was one of those questioning these well-intentioned displays.

«Taking a knee for the anthem, that’s not getting the job done, Powell said. «That’s getting washed out. Something has to happen where you’re forcing these people who can make the change to do something.

The Bucks followed their boycott decision with a statement aimed at forcing that change.

Hill and teammate Sterling Brown read it to reporters.

«The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African American communities. Citizens around the country have used their voices and platforms to speak out against these wrongdoings. Over the last few days, in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha and the additional shooting of protesters. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.

«When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort and hold each other accountable. We hold each other to that standard, and in this moment, we are demanding the same from lawmakers and law enforcement. We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand for the officers to be held accountable. For this to occur, it is imperative for the Wisconsin state legislature to reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality and criminal justice reform. We encourage all citizens to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action and remember to vote on Nov. 3.

Reportedly, the NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet Thursday morning to discuss next steps inside the bubble. There was talk the league may cancel the rest of the season. But according to Chris Haynes, a senior NBA Insider for Yahoo Sports, «a sizable amount of players [are] advocating to finish the season out since sacrifices were made to enter the bubble, believing the NBA platform is a useful resource in this social climate.