Miami Heat striker Meyers Leonard was the only player to rise during the national anthem as his teammates and Boston Celtics players knelt before Wednesday night’s game.
Players were kneeling in response to the violence at the U.S. Capitol earlier in the day, when a rally instantly turned violent when a crowd of Trump supporters stormed the building. The Heat and Celtics said in a joint statement that they are thinking about not playing the game, but decide anyway.
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Leonard, who was among the only players to perform during the summer anthem when the NBA was protesting racial injustice, explained why he stood up in a tweet.
“I CAN FOR men and women, like my brother who served this country,” he wrote. “I RESPOND to the violence and turmoil in DC. I RESPOND to solidarity with my teammates and brothers. I RESPOND to intolerance, racism and hatred.”
“I hope that our country will one day stop using our differences to divide us and SEE how our HEARTS can unite us. I CAN WITH LOVE IN MY HEART FOR EVERYONE ”.
The Celtics initially left the court, but ESPN said Boston intended to play after the team had a meeting of players.
“2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed,” said the statement. “We played tonight’s game with a heavy heart after yesterday’s decision in Kenosha, and knowing that protesters in our country’s capital are treated differently by political leaders, depending on which side of certain issues they are on.”
“The drastic difference between how the protesters last spring and summer were treated,” they continued, “and the incentive given to today’s protesters who acted illegally only shows how much work we still have to do.”
CELTICS, HEAT CONTEMPLATE BOYCOTING GAME, RELEASE JOINT DECLARATION AMONG US CAPITOL CHAOS
The statement continued: “We decided to play the game tonight to try to bring joy to people’s lives. But 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 egalitarian and just America. #BLACKLIVESSTILLMATTER. “
Leonard, whose brother served as a US marine in Afghanistan, allegedly wears a military-themed backpack and has several friends who are Navy SEALs. He explained in the summer why he is.
“Some of the conversations I’ve had in the past three days have literally been the most difficult,” Leonard told the Associated Press before a game. “I am part of the Black Lives Matter movement and I love and support the military and my brother and the people who fought to defend our rights in this country.”
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He added: “I am a compassionate human being and I really love all people. I cannot fully understand how our world, literally and figuratively, has become black and white. There is a line in the sand, so to speak: ‘If you don’t he is kneeling, he is not with us. And that is not true. “