Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins, Twitter/@Raiders
April 21, 2021, 12:58 pm*
NBA legend LeBron James had some choice words for whoever was posting from the Las Vegas Raiders’ Twitter account yesterday after former cop Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. While other professional sports teams were sending out messages about accountability and the work we have ahead of us, the Raiders sent out a three-word statement with yesterday’s date.
Featured Video
Hide
“I can breathe,” they tweeted, referencing the many times that Floyd said he couldn’t before he died.
Advertisement
Hide
Many Black Americans were baffled by this choice of tweet, including James.
“This is real???? Nah man this ain’t it at all. The F^%K!!!!” he wrote.
Advertisement
Hide
Many other commenters were similarly displeased with this message, calling on the Raiders to delete it or at least explain what they were thinking when they posted it. There are currently far more comments and quote tweets than likes on this post, which is what we in the business call a “ratio.”
The problem with the tweet as many Black Twitter users have explained is that Floyd himself still cannot breathe, being dead. It also seems to suggest that the conviction of Chauvin on murder charges means that the problem of police brutalizing and killing Black people at such a high rate compared to white people and the problem of police killings overall is solved.
Advertisement
Hide
However, the fact that 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, a Black girl, was shot and killed by police just 20 minutes after the Chauvin verdict was read suggests otherwise. History has taught us that Floyd will almost certainly not be the last Black person to die after telling the police that he can’t breathe, either.
Other NFL teams, which do not often release statements on issues considered to be “political,” have done a rather better job with their similar statements published in white text on a Black background. The New England Patriots, for example, were a bit less optimistic in their Chauvin trial tweet, recognizing that there is still a lot that needs to be done before Black Americans and many others feel like they can “breathe,” especially around police.
“Today’s verdict is one step toward accountability and justice,” they said. “We recognize that there is still a lot of work to be done and we are committed to being a part of that progress.”
Advertisement
Hide
According to ESPN, George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd thanked the Las Vegas Raiders following backlash to their tweet. Raiders owner Mark Davis said he had no plans to take down the tweet, and that his message was inspired in part by Philonise who said after Chauvin’s guilty verdict, “Today, we are able to breathe again.”
*First Published: April 21, 2021, 12:45 pm
0 Comments