*Colin Kaepernick sent a message to LeBron James in which he thanked him for speaking up following the police shooting of unarmed Black man Jacob Black in Wisconsin last week.
“Four years ago on August 14, 2016, I began protesting against systemic racism and social injustice,” Kaepernick wrote the a letter.
James shared the letter on his Instagram story, adding that he will be “standing/kneeling right next to you brother!” The letter continued, “Truth is what I sought. Solidarity is what you showed me. Love is what moves us forward. Thank you for staying true.”
We previously reported, James believes Black people in America are living in fear amid the rising civil unrest over police brutality.
The NBA superstar recently condemned the police shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police.
“Quite frankly it’s just f**ked up in our community,” he said in a postgame news conference Monday night, following the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 4 victory over the Portland Trailblazers in the Western Conference playoffs. “And I said it, I know people get tired of hearing me say it but we are scared as a Black people in America. Black men, Black women, Black kids, we are terrified,” James added.
He also noted that during the game he was focused on the shooting of Blake.
“I can’t even enjoy a playoff win right now, which is the sad part,” the Lakers star said.
Colin Kaepernick sent a note to LeBron James thanking him for protesting.
LeBron says he’s standing/kneeling next to Kap.
(via @KingJames) pic.twitter.com/T5keNVaTHJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 29, 2020
The shooting has sparked weeks-long violence in Kenosha. Blake remains hospitalized and has reportedly been left paralyzed after being shot 7 times in the back by police, as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat in the vehicle.
James took to Twitter to express his frustrations over the disturbing incident.
“And y’all wonder why we say what we say about the Police!! Someone please tell me WTF is this???!!! Exactly another black man being targeted,” he wrote. “This shit is so wrong and so sad!! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want JUSTICE.”
The NBA star also questioned the mental state of the white officer who shot Blake.
“There were multiple moments where if they wanted to, they could’ve tackled him. They could’ve grabbed him,” James said. “They could’ve done that. Why does it always have to get to a point where we see the guns firing and his family is there and the kids are there.”
Meanwhile, the NBA season will continue following reports of a possible league-wide boycott in protest of police brutality and social injustice.
Key members of the Lakers and the Clippers voted on Wednesday to end the season, while the rest of the teams wanted to continue playing.
The Milwaukee Bucks led the first walkout after Blake was shot in the back multiple times by law enforcement.
WATCH:
“We are scared as Black people in America. … Black men, Black women, Black kids. We are terrified.”
LeBron shared a powerful message on Jacob Blake and what it’s like to be African American in America. pic.twitter.com/UOMD7rk7Bd
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2020
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