The events in Minneapolis have prompted the players’ association, which has kept a low profile in recent years, to step forward.
The death of two people by the bullets of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has prompted several high-level athletes to open their mouths in the country.
37 years old Alex Pretty was killed by agents’ bullets Saturday in Minneapolis. Also 37 years old on January 7 Renee Good suffered the same fate in the same city.
The biggest shocks on the American sports field have come from basketball. The players’ association of the world’s best basketball league, the NBA, published a press release, according to which “NBA players can no longer remain silent.”
“Now, more than ever, we must stand up for free speech and show solidarity with the people of Minnesota who are protesting and risking their lives to demand justice,” the NBA players’ association said in a statement.
According to the players’ association, it is the “global citizens” who enrich both the NBA’s players and the entire United States. The Players’ Association says it opposes the fact that the polarization of society threatens the rights meant to protect all people.
The silence ended
Yahoo– according to the news site, the NBA players’ association has taken a stand on social issues before, such as in 2020 of George Floyd after death. Floyd was killed while in custody in Minneapolis when police Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on her neck for minutes.
In recent years, the NBA’s players’ association has kept a lower profile on social issues, according to Yahoo, and has not commented, for example, on operations to deport illegal immigrants.
Now, however, the vice president of the players’ association, a Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown’s according to “things have been happening for some time”.
– People have been rightfully making complaints and protesting for some time. But it takes a while to get the guys in the group, the majority, on the same page and get something out.
“Crazy”
Some players like the Indiana Pacers Tyrese Haliburtonhave chosen a more direct commenting style.
– Alex Pretti was murdered, Haliburton wrote on social media.
According to X, Haliburton’s update has been seen by about 25 million people. It has more than 430,000 likes.
Tyrese Haliburton called Alex Prett’s death a murder. PDO
The French star of the San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembenyama said in front of the media that the PR department has tried to get him to give a “politically correct answer”.
– Every day when I wake up and see the news, I’m terrified. I think it’s crazy that some people make these things sound acceptable – that murdering civilians is acceptable.
The situation in Minneapolis also led to the postponement of one NBA game. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who play in Minneapolis, played their Saturday game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
According to the NBA, the move was made because the league wanted to prioritize the safety of Minneapolis.
More moderate on the pike
On the ice hockey side, the comments have moved on a more general level.
– Sad. I’m from Minnesota, so it’s really sad to see something like this. This is definitely sad for a lot of people, Minnesota Wild NHL hockey player Brock Faber quoth.
– This has been quite shocking. My daughters were born here, Faber’s teammate Marcus Foligno said and added that the team and the club strive to support everyone involved.
The management of the NHL club Wild was part of a group of local big business managers who demanded the release of tensions in the area.
A Finn who played in the Wild for a long time Mikael Granlund told the Finnish media that he has not talked about the unrest and deaths with the locals. Granlund now represents the Anaheim Ducks.
– I rely on the news just like everyone else. It’s unfortunate what’s going on there, but I can’t tell you any more about what’s going on there, Granlund said.
