‘Nothing’s really changing:’ Raptors speak out against Blake shooting
TORONTO — Their raw emotion evident, their frustration palpable, Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell found themselves once again addressing the media in the aftermath of another shooting of a Black man by police.
The two Toronto Raptors are among the many players that have been using their platform at the NBA’s post-season bubble to speak out against systemic racism and police brutality. But after watching the video of Jacob Blake being shot multiple times, apparently in the back, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, VanVleet told reporters he was “in a different place today, emotionally speaking.”
The situation has caused the Raptors to discuss their options on protesting as the team gears up for Game 1 of an Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
“You know coming down here and making a choice to play was supposed to not be in vain, but it’s just starting to feel like everything we’re doing is going through the motions and nothing’s really changing,” VanVleet said Tuesday. “Here we are today with another unfortunate incident, so my thoughts today are with that man and his family and trying to wrap my mind around what they’re going through.”
The Raptors have been at the forefront of the NBA’s social justice initiatives, arriving to the league’s Walt Disney World campus in buses emblazoned with the “Black Lives Matter” slogan and asking for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people who have been killed by police.
VanVleet said now it’s time for others to get involved.
“Are we going to hold everybody accountable, or are we just going to put the spotlight on Black people or Black athletes or entertainers and say ‘What are you doing? What are you contributing to your community? What are you putting on the line?’
VanVleet and Powell said players have discussed options on how to respond to Blake’s shooting. Powell said boycotting games has been discussed.
“There’s a lot of things that have been talked about on how to approach this sensitive issue,” Powell said. “I think everybody’s at the point of sitting up and saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ and having these discussions and Zoom calls and putting apparel on, that’s not getting the job done. Taking a knee for the anthem, that’s not getting the job done.
“Something needs to happen where you’re forcing those people who can affect and make the change to do something,” he added.
VanVleet said not playing could motivate the right people.
“We knew coming here or not coming here wasn’t going to stop anything, but I think ultimately playing or not playing puts pressure on somebody,” he said.