Several NBA players said the chaos at the US Capitol on Wednesday helped
reaffirm their commitment to fight racial injustice, AFP reported. 

Hours after pro-Trump
supporters stormed the Capitol as legislators met to certify Joe Biden’s
victory in the November election, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players knelt
during the national anthem before their game in Miami.

In a joint statement,
the players spoke about the chaotic events in Washington and also about the
decision the prosecutors in Wisconsin took on Tuesday to not charge the white
police officer, who shot Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha last August.

“2021 is a new
year, but some things have not changed. We play tonight’s game with a heavy
heart after yesterday’s decision in Kenosha and knowing that protesters in our
nation’s capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what
side of certain issues they are on. The drastic difference between the way
protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given
to today’s protesters, who acted illegally, just shows how much more work we have
to do,” the joint statement read.

“We have decided
to play tonight’s game to try to bring joy into people’s lives. But we must not
forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices
and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for
a more equal and just America,” the statement added, AFP reported. 

Also Read: In Pics | The violence at the US Capitol Building

Meanwhile, 76ers coach
Doc Rivers condemned the violence at the Capitol, calling it “pretty disturbing
and sad.”

“I keep hearing, ‘This
is an attack on democracy.’ It’s not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. It
shows a lot though. I’ll say it because I don’t think a lot of people want to
— could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming into the
Capitol and what would’ve happened? It’s a sad day in a lot of ways. But it’s a
part of what we are and so we have to solve it,” Rivers said.