This past week Jacob Blake, an unarmed black male, was shot seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The video clip which has been seen nationwide has been extremely hard to stomach for myself, millions of Americans, and people all over the world.
I would like to personally send my sympathies to the Blake family. I can't begin to imagine witnessing and experiencing something that life changing.
It is extremely sad to witness the continuing pattern of extreme force used by the police, specifically on people of color. My hope is one day we will overcome this barricade that has stood before us since the beginning of this nation.
In the case of Jacob Blake, I am not willing to jump to conclusions and make any accusations against anyone until all parties involved are heard and all facts have been revealed and certified.
Even though he was resisting arrest, I do not believe Jacob Blake deserved to have his life put in severe risk of death. With as many cops as there were on site, there should have been another way to subdue him before needing to pull any trigger. Again, I'm sorry for the terrible feeling we all share in this moment.
On August 25th, the Detroit Lions canceled practice in wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. The Detroit Lions were the first of many teams in the U.S.A to publicly stand up and speak out for the Blake family. It was a courageous act that has begun a nationwide trend.
Yesterday on August 26th at 4 PM, the Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks were scheduled to play in game 5 of their first round playoff matchup. By 4:15, there was no sight of any team members of the Milwaukee Bucks. The news soon broke that the players were boycotting the game to demand justice for Jacob Blake.
Sterling Brown and George Hill were the team representatives that spoke to the media about why the Milwaukee Bucks had come to the conclusion to not play.
Point Guard George Hill said, "We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers 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."
He then ended his statement saying "We encourage all citizens to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action, and remember to vote on November 3,".
The NBA, WNBA, The Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners as well canceled the rest of their daily activities as an act of solidarity for the family of Jacob Blake and Black Lives Matter protests across the nation..
According to Adrian Wojnaroski of ESPN, The Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers were the only two teams in an NBA bubble meeting to consider sitting out for the rest of the playoffs. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made it clear to everyone in the league that he desires to see more action being taken by front offices and owners immediately.
As of Thursday morning the NBA will postpone all NBA games in solidarity for the nationwide protests, and playoff games will proceed on Friday, August 28th.
P.S.
I personally don't care what your beliefs in life are, whether you are more conservative or liberal. But, I respect any being who is willing to sacrifice their livelihood for the betterment of those in need. To be able to speak your mind, take action and defend on your behalf is what makes this country so great. I believe the only way to make a positive change in this country begins with us, on an everyday basis. We should commit ourselves to choosing and doing the right thing in every walk of life. Be willing to listen. Be willing to be kind. And be willing to put previous grievances behind for the betterment of your community and your life. The sooner we begin to work as one true nationwide community, the sooner we may finally be able to make progress.
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