LeBron James made major headlines when he revealed that he will not kneel for the national anthem, but he also said that he supports Colin Kaepernick and wants to see change. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ star says he fears for his children in light of the innocent people dying.
“I’m not here to ramp on America, that’s not me,” James told the Associated Press on Monday. “I’m not a politician, but I’ve lived this life and I’ve got a family and what scares me is my kids growing up in this society right now, where innocent lives are being taken and it seems like nothing is being done.”
“I’m all in favor of anyone, athlete or non-athlete, being able to express what they believe in in a peaceful manner and that’s exactly what Colin Kaepernick is doing and I respect that,” James said. “When I’m passionate about something I’ll speak up on it, so me standing for the national anthem is something I will do. That’s who I am, that’s what I believe in. But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect and don’t agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing.
“You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion and he’s doing it in the most peaceful way I’ve ever seen someone do something,” James said.
A father of three, James has been disturbed enough by recent shooting to fear the day his 12-year-old son, LeBron Jr., gets a driver’s license and can be out on his own.
“You tell your kids if you just apply and if you just listen to the police that they will be respectful and it will work itself out,” he said. “You see these videos that continue to come out, and it’s a scary-ass situation that if my son calls me and says that he’s been pulled over that I’m not that confident that things are going to go well and my son is going to return home.”
While many may chide James for standing, also remember this is the man who wore hoodies for Trayvon Martin, “I Can’t Breathe” shirts for Eric Garner, is spending over $41 million to send 1,100 Akron kids to college and is constantly speaking out about the injustices going on. This form of protest may just be something he doesn’t completely agree with.
source: AP
