LeBron James backs Colin Kaepernick after George Floyd tragedy: ‘Do you understand now?’
Legendary NBA star LeBron James, on Tuesday, May 26, showed support to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his movement against police brutality. James' support came shortly after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died earlier this week after a police officer from Minneapolis forcefully kneeled on his neck while making an arrest.
James posted a picture of the officer, identified as Derek Chauvin, kneeling in Floyd's neck alongside a picture of Kaepernick peacefully kneeling before an NFL game. The former San Francisco 49ers initiated the #TakeAKnee movement in 2016, where he along with several other NFL players refused to stand during the national anthem to raise awareness about racial injustice and police brutality in the country. Kaepernick's movement drew heavy criticism from President Trump, who even called for the owners of the NFL teams to fire the players who were participating in it.
The NBA star posted the picture on Tuesday night on Instagram, along with the caption: "Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you??"
You can see the picture here.
At least four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's brutal death were fired on May 26 after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The footage showed Floyd pleading with the officers, telling them that he could not breathe. James also posted the video on his Instagram story, and called for people to "stay woke". The Los Angeles Lakers star wrote: "Like I said before!! We're hunted."
On Wednesday, May 27, James followed up his messages with a picture of him wearing an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt. James had earlier worn the shirt in response to Eric Garner's death. Garner was killed after a New York City police officer put him in a chokehold. A video of the incident also showed Garner stating he could not breathe either.
James, earlier this month, had also taken to his social media to address the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed black man, was gunned down by two white men while he was jogging in February.
"We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes!" the NBA player had tweeted on May 6. “Can’t even go for a damn jog man! Like WTF man are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!? No man fr ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!”
Floyd's death sparked a massive protest in Minneapolis and the case is now being investigated by the FBI. Police had reportedly characterized Floyd's death as the result of a "medical incident" before the viral video was shared on social media, showing an officer kneeling on Floyd's neck.
Floyd, in the clip, can be seen lying on his stomach with his hands cuffed behind his back as one of the officers kneels on his neck. Floyd can be struggling as he tells the officers: "Please, please, please, I can't breathe. My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Please, please, I can't breathe." The video shows bystanders pleading with the officer to stand up, however, a second officer deflects the comments, and appears to mock Floyd by saying: "This is why you don't do drugs, kids."