NBA players and coaches on Wednesday protested the U.S. Capitol riot, and a prosecutor’s decision not to charge police for the shooting of Jacob Blake, as 11 games took place across the country amid the unrest.
Jan.7 (UPI) — NBA players and coaches on Wednesday protested the U.S. Capitol riot, as well as a prosecutor’s decision not to charge police in the shooting of Jacob Blake, as 11 games were held across the country amid the unrest in Washington, D.C. The Washington Wizards were in action against the Philadelphia 76ers, but played away from their home court, which is less than a mile from the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Players and coaches from both teams addressed the riot, which came at the time Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Sixers coach Doc Rivers criticized the law enforcement response to the Capitol storming by Donald Trump supporters in comparison to its response against Black people in recent years who protested police brutality and racial inequality. «It’s pretty disturbing and sad,» Rivers told reporters. «What it’s not, is an ‘attack on democracy.’ It’s not…. Democracy will prevail. It always does. It shows a lot, though. «When you saw protests in the summer, you saw the riots or more the police, the National Guard and the Army. And then you see this and you saw nothing. It basically proves the point about a privileged life in a lot of ways.» In Miami, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players issued a joint statement before their game Wednesday at American Airlines Arena.
