NBA players turned activists headed to Memphis this weekend
Throughout 2020, two former NBA players, Rasheed Wallace and Stephen Jackson, have used their station and platforms to enhance the struggle for social justice. They will bring that activism to Memphis on Saturday.
Wallace and Jackson — a longtime friend of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a now-former Minneapolis police office in May — are scheduled to hold an event this coming weekend at the NAACP Memphis branch on Vance Avenue, according to Van Turner, NAACP Memphis president and a Shelby County Commissioner.
“We are very excited that Mr. Wallace is coming to town and think this is going to be a great event for the community, “Turner told The Commercial Appeal. “I think there is a need for many things to take place here locally. We have to stop the youth violence. We have to do what we can to provide for those who are being put on the streets, being kicked out... There are many needs in the community, so, hopefully this will inspire us to stay on the task and work towards the change we want to see in the community.”
In an interview with The New York Times this summer, Jackson said he and Floyd referred to each other as ‘twin’ because of how alike they looked. Jackson sat with Floyd’s family at his funeral in Houston.
“Every time I watch that video, I see myself down there because we look so much alike. ... It easily could have been me down there: Just let me get pulled over by an officer who’s having a bad day and don’t like the fact that I’m in a nice car,” Jackson said, describing his reaction to the video of Floyd’s death to The Times’ Marc Stein.
Jackson and Wallace have partnered across the country this year, leading a rally in Wallace’s hometown of Philadelphia on Juneteenth and returning to Philadelphia for a food giveaway in October.
The event in Memphis is planned for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday at 588 Vance Ave.
Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman.