Yesterday civil rights activists started the hashtag #NoJusticeNoLebron, a movement asking LeBron James to sit out until there’s justice for Tamir Rice, the 12-year old boy who was killed by two Cleveland police officers for having a fake gun. Later on Tuesday night, James spoke publicly on the matter.
via ESPN:
“For me, I’ve always been a guy who’s took pride in knowledge of every situation that I’ve ever spoke on,” James said following the Cavs’ win over the Denver Nuggets. “And to be honest, I haven’t really been on top of this issue. So it’s hard for me to comment. I understand that any lives that [are] lost, what we want more than anything is prayer and the best for the family, for anyone. But for me to comment on the situation, I don’t have enough knowledge about it.”
James said that, just like the particulars of the investigation into the police officers’ actions against Rice, he was not fully informed about the calls for him to personally protest the lack of an indictment.
“I caught a little bit of it from my folks on the side saying that you guys might ask me about it, but I have no knowledge,” James said. “I’m not much of a social media guy. I’m on it, for sure, but I’m not always looking at what’s going on in it.”
“First of all, I think I’ve been very outspoken about what I believe in,” James said. “What hits home for me, what I am [knowledgeable] about. There’s been so many more issues that’s gone on that I haven’t spoken about.
……………
“But I think the most important thing that we all need to understand, the most important thing, this issue is bigger than LeBron. This issue is bigger than me; it’s about everyone. And gun violence and tragedies and kids losing lives at a young age, some way, somehow we need to understand that that matters more than just an individual.”
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…and that ‘there, was the correct and, really the only way to respond to this sensitive situation.
Well played LeBron..well played.?
The kid waved a fake gun at cops amd now theres a public outcry that its a race issue. Wake up black ppl. Stop playing the victim card or that’s all you’ll ever be.
Know the facts before commenting. He did not wave anything at the cops. He was playing with a toy gun at a park which many of kids have done. The cops pulled up and fired within seconds, not Allowing the kid time to wave anything.
NOT just black life’s matter- ALL life’s matter! We talk about people being racist- but that little quote “black life’s matter” I take offensive… I’m native American, and my people’s life’s matter, along with whites, Puerto Ricans, Chinese, Russian, and whatever else out there…. I think what happened to Tamir Rice is sad- especially for a kid his age… But instead of a small group protesting in the streets of downtown Cleveland – how about you all figure out how to teach these kid’s the right way of life- so we can avoid situations like this… That’s the best justice there is… TO PREVENT! # ALL LIFE’S MATTER!!!
Are you suggesting that Tamir Rice wasn’t living”the right way of life”? Furthermore, no one is saying that other lives do not matter. This is a group of majority black people protesting about the unjust death of other black people. It does not in any way suggest that your life does not matter, but it does suggest that our lives matter just as much. What about that don’t y’all get?
That’s the point. If y’all are going to protest for a black life, then why not protest for every life? It’s because black lives are the only lives that matter in your eyes (as well as others like you). So does that not make you racist?
Black lives matter doesn’t mean only black lives matter brainiac. Are you wilfully ignorant? Not only do white people protest with them it means that black lives should matter. In amerikkka they don’t and it’s way more of an outrage that the shit has to be said.
Shut up. Just shut up. Do us all a favor and Google why all lives matter movement is not an appropriate come back to black lives matter.
Whoever said that black life’s don’t matter???? Who came up with that??? Are you suggesting that we think your life doesn’t matter? Never once did I say Tamir wasn’t living right- but tamir made a horrible decision to stand in a park “public place” wavinga bb gun around that looks no different then a real gun… And because a police officer reacted swiftly to what could of been in his opinion someone standing there with a real gun -that could of harmed the police officer or others in the area… How would you feel if your child was there ,and shot because the officer didn’t act quickly, and to find out that was a real gun??? It has NOTHING to do with Tamir being black- he made an awful mistake- that unfortunately ended tragically… I feel horrible for his family, and it saddens me that this happened- but this isn’t a black or white matter- this is about a child that made a mistake , and a police officer that acted swiftly!
Black lives matter doesn’t mean only black lives matter brainiac. Are you wilfully ignorant? Not only do white people protest with them it means that black lives should matter. In amerikkka they don’t and it’s way more of an outrage that the shit has to be said. Blame a child for playing with a toy gun that millions of white kids play with everyday….Idiot.
Question! If that was a Black officer that shot tamir rice that day- what do you think people would have to say then? Back in November a Black Police Officer shot a 6yr old boy with autism in Louisiana- I don’t see people protesting saying white lives matter… I also don’t see the racism card being thrown out there either… It seems to be when something happens between a Black and white person the racism thing gets put out there…. African Americans were slaves, Native Americans were kicked off their land, the Jews were being killed, and so on….. I feel terrible for what ALL of our ancestors went through but “racism” only lives on because “some people” don’t know how to drop it… Let’s move forward- by saying black lives matter- that’s only segregated yourselves… “ALL LIVES MATTER” !!!!
Point blank- as I have said before “ALL LIVES MATTER”… I do not agree with signs being held up only saying “black lives matter”… Also if you go on Fox 8 news here in Cleveland it talks about how the protesters were screaming “why can’t white people understand that black lives matter”. If you ask me that’s a racist thing to say… I believe “the white people” don’t speak out about this because it would get even more blown up then what it already is… I’m just saying- it seems to be every time a situation happens between a Black and a white person people throw that racism card out there- and that’s not always the reason… I’m Native American, my step dad is Ukrainian, my sister is with a Black man, and my husband is Puerto Rican- we all agree together on this situation… So it’s just some people are ignorant, and can’t seem to let the racism card go.. I’m not saying there aren’t racist people in this world- but the more you acknowledge it- the more they feed on it… But some people need to think before they speak… I have spoken to a few white people and other people from different races and backgrounds that find “the black lives matter” thing to be racist- so let’s think about how that makes others feel as well… We are all one -so let’s act upon it…
As I sit here and read these comments,I have potty for some.the fact that you can sit there and say all white kids play with the same gun is stupid.Some parents won’t let their kids outside with guns not in this generation. I also think its quite comical that #blacklivesmatter only when their shot by someone white. So my question is ,with all the black on black crime going on,its okay if someone black dies at the hands of someone black?So would it have been different if tamir rice would have died at the hands of two black officers?granted I feel terrible for how he died and the fact that he was so young,but he should have been taught don’t take guns outside.Officers are trained to take action an react on what they hear from dispatch.Stop blaming them for doing what their taught.We need to blame ourselfs as a whole for not stepping up and talking to our youth about guns.
Pitty*
Well said- (ALL LIVES MATTER) ?
ASHANTI- what do you mean? I didn’t understand your comment.
ASHANTI- so I googled what you said to, and I still feel strongly about what I have said in my past post… Again- kid’s don’t understand exactly what’s going on, and therefore it bothers me when my 10yr old ask me why does only black lives matter, and not hisor other races… It sucks being a mom, and having to explain to him that everyones lives matter- and not be able to explain to him what that comment means… At the end of the day- everyones lives matter- and I go by what the man upstairs would want me to…. Also- I’ve been very respectful on here- we should all do the same..