Celtics, past and present, speak out against Capitol riots
"Can you imagine today, if those were all black people storming the Capitol, and what would have happened?"
Several athletes with Boston ties spoke out about Wednesday’s violent protests at the U.S. Capitol Building led by President Donald Trump’s supporters.
Celtics legend Bill Russell made a point to say that if the rioters were Black, they would be treated differently. He also called out Trump.
“How long would it take to deploy the National Guard if they were black & how many would be dead?” Russell wrote in a tweet. “This is NOT#America!”
How long would it take to deploy the National Guard if they were black & how many would be dead? This is NOT#America! A sitting #President did this @realDonaldTrump #Coward & yes that is a #Confederate flag outside the Senate chamber. How did they not know this would happen? pic.twitter.com/MNgFZIthJ2
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) January 6, 2021
Former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, who now coaches the 76ers, asked a simple question.
“I will say it, because I don’t think a lot of people want to,” Rivers told reporters Wednesday. “Can you imagine today, if those were all black people storming the Capitol, and what would have happened? That, to me, is a picture that’s worth a thousand words for all of us to see.”
“As an older black male, I’ve seen police dogs [unleashed],” Rivers later added. “And then you see today.”
Jayson Tatum reacted by retweeting a message that showed police wearing military riot-gear during a Black Lives Matter protest, adding “Damn shame.”
Damn shame https://t.co/ZgRmE3clhK
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) January 6, 2021
Former Celtics star Isaiah Thomas sent out several tweets on the matter. His first one called out Trump.
“Stop blaming everybody else buddy,” Thomas wrote. “You haven’t protected shit since you been in office”
Stop blaming everybody else buddy. You haven’t protected shit since you been in office https://t.co/QzaOcGgffg
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) January 6, 2021
In his next couple of tweets, Thomas wrote that Trump supporters were getting better treatment from police than Blacks who protested.
“When we do anything ‘THEY’ are scared for [their] lives,” Thomas wrote. “When Trumps homies get down they got every excuse in the book to make sure things are ok smh. This stuff is crazy!!!”
“Our heads woulda been blown off already…. This is crazy,” Thomas wrote in another tweet.
Our heads woulda been blown off already…. This is crazy
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) January 6, 2021
Celtics forward Grant Williams said he wasn’t shocked by today’s events, but still wants it to stop, calling some of the people involved “terrorists.”
“What’s going on rn in the America that we live in is disgusting,” Williams wrote. “The fact that this story will be told in our history is something that isn’t shocking but something that should never happen again. We must be better. I pray for safety to all those in threat by the TERRORISTS 2day.”
What’s going on rn in the America that we live in is disgusting. The fact that this story will be told in our history is something that isn’t shocking but something that should never happen again. We must be better. I pray for safety to all those in threat by the TERRORISTS 2day.
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) January 6, 2021
Former Celtics forward Jae Crowder made a similar point.
“WOW.. SPEECHLESS.!,” Crowder wrote. “U THINK IF THE BLACKLIVES MATTER MOVEMENT GOT THIS FAR IT WOULD STILL BE NO INJURIES OR DEATH.!?”
WOW.. SPEECHLESS.! U THINK IF THE BLACKLIVES MATTER MOVEMENT GOT THIS FAR IT WOULD STILL BE NO INJURIES OR DEATH.!? 🤔 https://t.co/GRiSzUQ5NC
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) January 6, 2021
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