They could not remain silent. Two days after the death of Alex Pretti, killed by immigration police in Minneapolis, emotions are running high in the United States. It inevitably affects sports stars, starting with NBA basketball players, who did not hesitate to speak out.
On his X account, Olympic champion Tyrese Haliburton was one of the first to react. In a clear publication, watched by nearly 22 million Internet users, the leader of the Indiana Pacers wrote: “Alex Pretti was murdered”. “This world is sick,” said Minnesota Timberwolves player Jaylen Clark on Instagram.
Scheduled a few hours after the death of Alex Pretti, the match between the Wolves and the Golden State Warriors was postponed to this Sunday evening. The opportunity for the coaches to return to this terrible tragedy which is shaking the United States and their locker rooms.
Known for his societal battles, Steve Kerr, Michael Jordan’s former teammate and Warriors coach, did not miss the opportunity to give his opinion on a “divided” society. “I think that remembering the values enshrined in the Constitution, the values linked to citizenship, the values of solidarity, is essential at this time, precisely because of the extremism which is manifesting itself on all sides,” he declared.
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Believing that “this is a confusing time to live and to be an American,” the coach deplored the “misinformation” that would be the root of the problem. “What’s so sad about this is that we’re at loggerheads right now,” he continued. And you know, we can’t just say: I am right and the other is wrong. Not in the current context where we are overwhelmed by an incessant flow of information. »
“I had my eyes glued to the TV on Saturday, even when we weren’t playing, following the broadcasts to understand what was happening and trying to find out as much information as possible,” continued its star Stephen Curry. I hope that the community will come together and that the right decisions will be made to create a more peaceful climate. »
“It doesn’t matter what your beliefs are, your political opinions or anything else, it’s human nature,” said Julius Randle, Timberwolves player. No one deserves to lose their life, and it’s especially hard when it happens in our community. »
Star of the women’s league, the WNBA, Breanna Stewart entered the court on Sunday with a sign “Let’s abolish the Ice”. “We’re so fueled by hate instead of love right now, so I wanted to send a simple message: Let’s abolish ICE. This means putting in place policies that support families and communities instead of stoking fear and violence,” she said after her match.
On “Terrible things are happening outside. Destitute people are taken from their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school and see that their parents are missing,” he wrote.
