NBA Star LeBron James wore a fake MAGA hat in support of Breonna Taylor ahead of the first playoff game between the Los Angles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Riffing off President Trump’s MAGA red hat theme, James’ hat read ‘Make America Great arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.’
NBA Star LeBron James turns red MAGA hat into social justice message about Breonna Taylor
A clear jab at President Trump happened on Tuesday night when the NBA star shared two photos of himself wearing the hat and a black shirt on Instagram.
The black shirt that James wears has three words – “By Any Menas” – in red, black, and green.
The powerful message on the shirt goes with James’ Instagram caption:“By Any Means‼️ Lets Get It 👑 #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor❤️✊🏾.”
Celebrities and sports players swiftly commented and expressed support for James’ fashion statement.
Rapper Snoop Dogg said “Let’s eat 💙💪🏾💪🏾💙🔥🔥” while singer Justin Timberlake wrote “The hat. 💯”
Free agent NFL player and social activist Colin Kaepernick commented: “Well bring it then got Damn it.”
Kaepernick sat or kneeled during the national anthem in the 2016/17 NFL season to highlight racial injustice in the US.
What’s more, the basketball legend has been vocal in the past regarding what he views as police brutality and his experience of living in America as a black man.
He has vowed to use his platform to raise social justice awareness throughout the season.
James led every NBA player, coach, and referee in kneeling during the national anthem on the league’s first night back after the coronavirus shutdown
LeBron has previously spoken out about racial injustice
In doing so, James led every NBA player, coach, and referee in kneeling during the national anthem on the league’s first night back in July following the coronavirus shutdown.
The NBA currently requires players to stand for the national anthem, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had said that he would deal with the situation if and when a player decides to kneel.
Earlier in August, President Trump said on Fox and Friends that he wouldn’t watch the games where NBA players kneel.
“When I see people kneeling during the playing and disrespecting our flag and national anthem, what I do personally is turn off the game. I think it’s disgraceful,” the president said.
President Trump said on Fox and Friends that he wouldn’t watch the games where NBA players kneel
James also urged fans last month to stop calling Black Lives Matter a movement and consider it “a walk of life.”
“A lot of people kind of use this analogy, talking about Black Lives Matter as a movement. It’s not a movement. When you’re black, it’s not a movement. It’s a lifestyle,” said James said in July.
According to a lawsuit filed by Breonna Taylor’s family, her killing was the result of a botched drug-warrant execution
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot dead by Louisville police in her apartment during a forced-entry raid in the early morning hours of March 13.
None of the officers involved has been charged with a crime.
Taylor, who worked for two local hospitals, had no criminal history.
