LeBron James again voiced criticism at the death of a black man named George Floyd in Minneapolis, United States.
LeBron via upload on Instagram twice criticized the police in Minneapolis related to the death of Floyd.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ first upload showed a photo of a police officer stepping on Floyd’s neck using his knee, alongside a photo of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick on his knees that had been viral several years ago.
“This … cause. Do you understand now? Or is it still vague in your mind? #StayWoke,” LeBron wrote in a photo caption.
Quoted from CNN, the photo means LeBron wants the US community to understand what Kaepernick is fighting for in the 2016 NFL season. At that time Kaepernick who was still strengthening the San Francisco 49ers chose to kneel when the United States national anthem reverberated.
Kaepernick knelt as a form of violent protest against the black community in the US. Since that time no NFL club has wanted to recruit Kaepernick.
LeBron’s second upload is a picture of him wearing a T-shirt with the words ‘I Can’t Breath’ when warming up the NBA match. The shirt was used by LeBron in 2014 to protest the death of black man Eric Garner at the hands of police officer Daniel Pantaleo. At that time Garner died after being strangled by Pantaleo until he could not breathe.
LeBron’s voice
LeBron consistently issued a voice of criticism towards the police and the US government. The former Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers player is not afraid to comment on social issues.
Previously, LeBron commented on the shooting of black youths Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, and Garner who died from suffocation from Pantaleo when he wanted to be detained in July 2014.
Before Floyd’s death, LeBron commented on the shooting of black youth Ahmaud Arbery to death while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia, February 2020. LeBron demanded justice for Arbery’s family.
LeBron’s attitude made him considered a greater athlete than Michael Jordan, at least from social issues, especially injustice against the black community. LeBron is not worried about getting criticism from the public, fans, or losing sponsors because of his attitude.
Jordan, considered the greatest basketball athlete in history, was criticized for political attitudes. In 1990, Jordan refused to support Harvey Gantt, who competed with white Republican politician Jesse Helms to become the North Carolina Senator.
Gantt, who is a black Democrat politician, asked Jordan to give him support. However, Jordan refused despite being asked directly by his mother, Deloris. Jordan refused to support Gantt because he did not want to work with Nike as damaged.
“Republican supporters also bought [Nike] shoes,” Jordan said at the time.
Jordan action makes the former Chicago Bulls player was criticized. Jordan is considered not to care about violence against black people, especially Helms is known as a racial figure.
In the documentary ‘The Last Dance’, Jordan admitted that he had said “Republican supporters also bought shoes” and did not want to correct his words. Jordan, as an athlete, said he did not want to get involved in political matters.
