LeBron James, Lakers wear MAGA-style hats, demand justice for Breonna Taylor
The entire 2020 NBA season has been full of moments highlighting racial and social justice.
Before Game 1 of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers filed into the arena wearing hats with a message.
The red hats, which resembled the infamous MAGA-hats worn by supporters of President Donald Trump, read “Make America Great Again Arrest The Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor.”
Lakers star, LeBron James posted images of himself walking into the arena in the hat, a black mask, and a shirt which read “By Any Means.”
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The entire 2020 NBA season has been full of moments highlighting racial and social justice. The season, which occurred in a “bubble” due to the coronavirus pandemic, kicked off after months of protests following the police killings of Taylor and George Floyd.
The official Twitter account of the Los Angeles Lakers posted images of players entering the arena wearing the hats as well. The caption read, “Demand Justice.”
Following the game, where the Lakers lost, James spoke to reporters.
“It’s just something that we continue to put our foot on the gas, continue to pressure,” James said. “The situation that’s going on in Louisville, Kentucky, an innocent woman being killed, by the name of Breonna Taylor, a woman who had a bright future, and her life was taken away from her. There have been no arrests. There’s been no justice — not only for her but for her family. We want to continue to shed light on that situation. It’s just unjust.”
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NBA players and coaches have been very vocal about the Black Lives Matter movement. On the opening night of the season, following the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, players, coaches, and game officials kneeled during the national anthem.
Commissioner Adam Silver stated that he would not force players to stand during the anthem. “I respect our teams’ unified act of peaceful protest for social justice and under these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our national anthem.”
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