It is not often that world famous black athletes step up and speak for their people when an injustice is done. Normally they live their lives as if it don’t affect them. But maybe we are seeing a shift in today’s black athletes. In the wake of the tragic shooting in Dallas that left five law enforcement officers dead, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony took to social media Friday morning to ask athletes to “step up” and “demand change” without resorting to violence.
“Shooting 11 cops and killing 5 WILL NOT work,” Anthony wrote on Instagram. “… I’m calling for all my fellow ATHLETES to step up and take charge. Go to your local officials, leaders, congressman, assemblymen/assemblywoman and demand change. There’s NO more sitting back and being afraid of tackling and addressing political issues anymore. Those days are long gone. We have to step up and take charge.
“We can’t worry about what endorsements we gonna lose or whose going to look at us crazy. I need your voices to be heard. We can demand change. We just have to be willing to. THE TIME IS NOW. IM all in. Take Charge. Take Action. DEMAND CHANGE.”
LeBron James, who said Anthony’s Instagram post was “on point,” also reached out on Twitter to implore people to stop the violence.
We are all hurting tonight. More violence is not the answer. #StoptheViolence
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 8, 2016
Yes, their were some cops that were murdered. Yes, that is tragic. But lets not forget why they were murdered. You can’t get mad when an oppressed people decides to fight back in the same way you fight them. If you America doesn’t want murdered cops, demand that cops stop murdering black men, women, and babies.
Dallas athletes also expressed their emotions on social media following Thursday night’s attack.
It is the #Lives that are lost that we are not honoring if we keep having this divide #Fam! This idea is not only about tonight #PEACE !!!
— Marcus Spears (@mspear96) July 8, 2016
Our community is stunned this morning. My thoughts and prayers go out to the fallen police officers and their loved ones.
— Tony Romo (@tonyromo) July 8, 2016
Black lives Matter,White lives matter,Hispanic lives matter,Latin lives matter,Asian lives matter,All lives matter,Yo life matters! #Truth
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) July 8, 2016
Dallas,we mourn those who lost their lives protecting us and stand together, united, to cherish those we live and work next to #DallasStrong
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 8, 2016
Still in shock. Saddened to hear about the tragic events in Dallas. My Thoughts are with everyone, who are affected. #StoptheViolence
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) July 8, 2016
Man what is going on right now. I don’t wanna live in fear! I want to be free and walk around my city. Not scared of my every move!
— Justin Anderson (@JusAnderson1) July 8, 2016
“We need to steer our anger in the right direction,” Anthony wrote. “The system is Broken. Point blank period. It has been this way forever. Martin Luther King marched. Malcolm X rebelled. Muhammad Ali literally fought for US. Our anger should be towards the system. If the system doesn’t change we will continue to turn on the TVs and see the same thing. We have to put the pressure on the people in charge in order to get this thing we call JUSTICE right.”
Original Source: Here
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