Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris is using his platform to bring attention to the death of Breonna Taylor. On Monday (July 20), he used his time with the media to demand that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron arrest the officers involved in the fatal shooting.
“Nothing against the T-shirts, but we want to make sure that Daniel Cameron arrests the cops and officers involved with Breonna Taylor’s death,” Harris said. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Another reporter began to ask another question to Harris and he repeated his initial message. “That’s going to be my answer for every question — for Daniel Cameron to step up and do what’s right,” he continued. “That’s the only message I’ve got today.” He then thanked the media and walked off the stage.
A lot of NBA players have used this season to bring awareness to social justice issues. New Orleans Pelican star Jrue Holiday has pledged the rest of his 2020 NBA salary, which is valued at about $5.3 million, towards issues in the Black community.
“I have pledged the remainder of my 2020 NBA salary as a progressive step toward combating systemic racism as well as social and economic inequality that continues to prevent Black communities from upward mobility,” Holiday wrote in an Instagram post.
He continued, “These funds will go to Black-led nonprofits, programs and institutions of higher learning in the cities of New Orleans, L.A., Compton and Indianapolis, as well as to Black-owned small businesses in 10 cities that have been devastated by the impact of COVID-19, but are now known to have received less than 2% of the Paycheck Protection Program loans provided.”
The NBA season is set to resume on July 30. The words “Black Lives Matter” will reportedly be written on the basketball courts and some players have chosen to place social justice statements on the back of their jerseys,
Check out a clip from Harris’ press conference below.