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LeBron James, others around NBA speak out after death of George Floyd

US-CRIME-RACE

A protester prays in front of the memorial of George Floyd who died in custody on May 26, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. - An FBI investigation is underway following a fatal encounter May 25, 2020 between Minneapolis police and an unarmed black man. In a statement early Tuesday, police said the man had a medical incident during an attempted arrest. However, video of the encounter shows an officer with his knee on the mans neck for at least seven minutes. Before the man loses consciousness, he repeatedly tells officers that he cant breathe. (Photo by Kerem Yucel / AFP) (Photo by KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

George Floyd died Monday while saying “I can’t breathe” as a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground and put his knee on his neck for an extended time. A video of Floyd’s death prompted a severe backlash, including the firing of four police officers, FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigations, and public protests.
Floyd’s death also sparked frustration and outrage among NBA players and they took to social media to speak out, as they have had to do too often in the past with the deaths of black men at the hands of police. Many followed the lead of LeBron James in posting on Instagram an image of a policeman kneeling on Floyd’s neck juxtaposed with Colin Kaepernick kneeling on the sidelines of an NFL game during the national anthem.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAq3fpCgyve/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsswn-gbwe/

No one around the NBA was hit harder than former player and current ESPN analyst Stephen Jackson, who knew Floyd and was devastated by the news. He called Floyd by his nickname, Twin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAqCtT-FV0s/

Other NBA players took to Twitter and Instagram, here is just a sampling.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsLBe-DVjJ