Kerr: `a lot of people' have reached out after his plea
SAN FRANCISCO >> Steve Kerr's angry, emotional speech in the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas on Tuesday spread quickly across social media and national news.
Kerr says many people have contacted him, asking what they can do to help.
“I've had a lot of people reach out to me, most asking what they can do. And I think that's a really good question,” Kerr said.
In his impassioned statement before Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Mavericks, Kerr said he was “fed up” after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, about 350 miles south of Dallas.
“When are we going to do something?” Kerr asked on Tuesday, raising his voice and on the verge of tears. “I'm tired. I'm so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there.”
Kerr, whose father was assassinated in Beirut in 1984, has been vocal in his outrage over gun violence and advocated for gun safety measures.
“You know, for whatever reason, it's a political issue, but it's really a public health issue,” Kerr said Thursday. “As soon as we can just shift the dynamic to this being a public health issue, then you get momentum. So what I'm asking people to do is to get involved in their local communities. There's lots of amazing gun safety, gun prevention groups out there. Call your senators. Call your representatives. It's all very helpful. But again, this is — I've got lots of friends who are Democrats. I've got lots of friends who are Republicans. All I know is they all want gun violence to go away.
“We just need to get our public servants to respond to what we all want. I don't know how to do that, but we're going to try.”
The Warriors held a moment of silence for the 21 victims before the start of Thursday's game. The team also listed on the videoboard three organizations — Brady United, Giffords and LiveFree. — that fans can visit if they want to learn more about “sensible gun legislation in America.”