The recent shooting of another unarmed Black man by a White Officer has caused serious outrage. Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back as he was walking away from cops and trying to get in his SUV. Jacob’s partner and the couple’s 3 children were in the back seat of the vehicle screaming when police shot him. Jacob Blake is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of being shot in the back by a cop in Kenosha, WI.
Many stars came out and expressed there feelings over the situation. There has been protesting in the city of Kenosha, but now the NBA has been forced to suspend games. The Milwaukee Bucks refused to take to the court in protest of the shooting prompting other teams to do the same. NBA Allstar LeBron James took to Twitter to express his frustration, “FUCK THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT” he wrote in all caps. The NBA says all 3 playoff games scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed, after multiple teams refused to take the court. The Bucks vs. Magic, Rockets vs. OKC Thunder and Lakers vs. Blazers are officially cancelled.
George Hill, the guard for the Bucks, who has been vocal since the shooting told ESPN’s Marc Spears “We’re tired of the killings and the injustice.” Hill who first spoke out after Milwaukee’s Game 4 win on Monday afternoon, “It’s just sickening,” Hill said, when asked about Blake’s shooting. “It’s heartless. It’s a f—ed-up situation. Like I said, you’re supposed to look at the police to protect and serve. Now, it’s looked at harass or shoot. To almost take a guy’s life. Thank God he’s still alive.
“I know the cops are probably upset he’s still alive, because I know they surely tried to kill him. But to almost take a man’s life, especially in front of one’s kids, that wasn’t resisting, in his back at point-blank range, is a heartless and gutless situation. We need some justice for that.”
He was asked what could the Bucks do inside the bubble by a reporter. Hill didn’t mince his words when he spoke, “We can’t do anything,” he said, “First of all, 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. But we’re here, so it is what it is. We can’t do anything from right here, but I think definitely, when it’s all settled, some things have to be done.
“I think this world has to change. I think our police department has to change. Us as society has to change. And, right now we’re not seeing any of that. Lives are being taken, as we speak, day in and day out, and there’s no consequence or accountability for it, and that’s what has to change.”
Other players around the NBA showed support for the Bucks like Donavan Mitchell who tweeted out “WE DEMAND CHANGE! SALUTE” followed with a black fist emoji and Jamal Murray chimed in with “WE DEMAND JUSTICE” as a show of solidarity for their NBA brothers. We will keep you updated as the story continues to develop.
