Celtics legend Bill Russell speaks out on Trump’s epithet
Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell spoke out forcefully Friday against President Donald Trump’s reported use of the word “shithole” to describe immigration from countries affected by natural disasters and other devastation.
Russell, long an outspoken advocate for civil rights, said on Twitter that the Africans who first arrived on US shores were brought here against their will.
Is @realDonaldTrump aware the first people to come here from #”SHIThole” countries did not come willingly, they came as slaves to build this country and the White House #Racismhasnologic @Lawrence @CNN @NBA @JoyAnnReid @FoxNews @POTUS #MLKDay2018
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) January 12, 2018
The 11-time NBA champion has often spoken out on civil rights issues, dating back to his time with the Celtics in Boston. He attended the 1963 March on Washington and was a supporter of Muhammad Ali at a time when the boxer was drawing controversy over his decision not to serve in the military. He was the first African-American coach in professional sports in North America when he was named Celtics player-coach in 1966, though he has long distanced himself from Boston, a city he once considered bigoted.
