Stephen Jackson is grieving the loss of his friend George Floyd, who was killed in police custody on Monday (May 25) after a white Minneapolis officer pinned Floyd down to the ground, holding his knee on Floyd’s neck. The retired NBA player opened up about his close friendship with Floyd — whom he called his “twin” — on Instagram.
“Floyd was my brother, man. We called each other twin. Everybody know, me and Floyd called each other twin,” Jackson said in a tearful clip. “My brother was only in Minnesota, changing his life. He went to Minnesota, he was driving trucks. I had just sent him up two, three boxes of clothes. My boy was doing what he’s supposed to, and y’all go and kill my brother.”
“I’m on my way to Minnesota, man. To do what I can do,” he continued. “Can’t let this ride, dawg. Y’all not gonna be mad ‘till it hits your front door.”
In a series of heartbreaking posts, Jackson described Floyd as a father “who showed so much love” to his children and shared more details about his new job and recent move to Minnesota. The pair grew up together in Houston, TX and Jackson recalled Floyd’s impressive football and basketball skills, his love for his family and how he supported his NBA career.
“Nobody was more proud of my growth and my fatherhood more than #BigFloydDaGod,” Jackson wrote. “We will get justice. They will be writing a big check for your kids on behalf of Minnesota Police Dept. and u can bet dat Jack. Rest Easy Twin u wasn’t suppose to make it through the life u had change for the better then go out like this.”
On Wednesday (May 27), Jackson and Real Justice PAC Co-founder Shaun King joined forces with REVOLT BLACK NEWS.
“Texas will be represented in Minnesota make room we en route. Jail time and Losing Jobs ain’t enough this time. We need his kids taking care of and harsh penalties not no light jail time… Salute to my brother [Shaun King] dealing with his mother being sick and he’s still 10 toes down. We all need to take notes,” Jackson wrote of their partnership on Instagram.
The four Minnesota officers involved in Floyd’s killing were fired from the police department on Tuesday (May 26). An FBI investigation into Floyd’s death was launched after a disturbing video showed one officer pinning him down, as Floyd repeatedly told them, “I can’t breathe.”
See more of Jackson’s touching posts below. Our hearts go out to Floyd’s family and friends at this tragic time.