Players from two NBA teams knelt during the National Anthem on Wednesday night after a day of civil unrest in Washington shook the country and a decision by Kenosha prosecutors not to bring charges against police officers involved in the murder of Jacob Blake .
Most of the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics players chose to kneel in solidarity before facing each other.
Heat and Celtics players kneel during national anthem
(by @IraHeatBeat)pic.twitter.com/zuwsJNKmQz
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 7, 2021
In a joint statement, the two teams expressed their initial hesitation in playing the game due to the day’s events, but ended up deciding to do so “to try to bring joy to people’s lives”.
– Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 7, 2021
“We played tonight’s game with a heavy heart after yesterday’s decision in Kenosha, and knowing that the protesters in our country’s capital are treated differently by political leaders, depending on the side of certain issues they are on,” says the communicated.
“The drastic difference between the way the protesters of last spring and summer were treated and the incentive given to protesters today who acted illegally only shows how much work we still have to do.”
The two teams promised to continue talking about what they consider irregularities.
“We must not forget the injustices in our society and we will continue to use our voice and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America.”