Since Israel began the invasion of The Gaza Strip in October, people across the world have taken to the streets to voice their objections through protest.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health spokesperson, about 18,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 6,600 of those being children not including the thousands of children missing under the rubble of Israeli bombs, and 49,500 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7.
Protests have been in South Africa, Canada, Mexico City, Spain, London, Berlin, Paris, Ankara, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, Tokyo, Stockholm, Milan, and many more.
Record breaking protests in Washington DC and New York (mostly consisting of American Jews) who are using their collective voices to say “Not In Our Name” and give calls for a permanent Ceasefire. They are boldly accusing Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing, violations of international law, and collective punishment through signs, chants, interviews, and social media.
in addition, an extensive plethora of celebrities have also lent their voices to standing in solidarity with Palestinian civilians who are currently being slaughtered by the thousands by Israel. Celebrities such as:
Amanda Seales, Residente, Macklemore, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Ruffalo, John Cusack, Yasin Bey (Mos Def), Melissa Barrera, Susan Sarandon, Rowland Blanchard, Jesse Williams, Cynthia Nixon, Bonnie Wright, Kid Cudi, The Game, Jane Fonda, Renaldo, Selena Gomez, Bella Hadith, Jenna Ortega, Gabrielle Union, The Weekend, Frank Ocean, Michael Bennett, Jenna Ortega, Lori Harvey, Yara Shahidi, Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Cardi B just to name a few.
But notably absent from this resistance have been NBA players. And I wanted to examine why
I have personally received over a dozen messages from different active NBA players and even more from retired NBA players thanking me for the way I have been using my social media on this topic. I asked a few of them if I could share what they said to me as long as I omit their identity and they agreed so here are a few messages again from active NBA players,
“E I have always respected you from a far but your willingness to properly inform the public about what’s really going on is special. I'm new to understanding this Palestinian thing ..I swear I don't know how you stay sane hearing these stories. Their oppression is too forreal !! It’s just evil! The woman mowed down by a tractor cause she was protesting the settlements. The sniper fire. The prisons. Broooo! How did I not know this. Keep doin what you’re doing”
“Etan, didn’t want anything just to give you your flowers. I learn so much from reading your posts. The media intentionally keeps us misinformed and the powers that be keep us afraid to speak out. I was actually advised by my agent to stay far away from this topic unless I wanted the Kyrie treatment. Been trying to learn and unlearn as much as I can. Hard to admit we've been hoodwinked our entire lives on Israel and if we say anything, we’re labeled anti semitic smh That’s why I respect you so much”
“What up E, I’m not gonna hold you, but I be scared to even like your posts sometimes lol, but I read all of them and a lot of guys on my team do too. The image you posted showing how Israel has become exactly what they always hated the most was so on point. You probably don’t know but dudes respect you. Keep being you, it’s appreciated”
So the question is, why don’t they feel comfortable voicing their opinions themselves ?
I experienced something similar to this during the invasion of Iraq while playing for the Washington Wizards back in 2004/2005, I was very outspoken about my opposition to what was happening.
https://www.democracynow.org/2005/9/26/nba_player_etan_thomas_slams_bush
To put it in perspective, currently if you ask anyone about the invasion of Iraq, whether they’re Republican or Democrat, just about all will agree that it wasn’t a good idea, we were sold a bill of goods, there were no weapons of mass destruction, Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, followed by criticism of George W Bush but that wasn’t the sentiment back then when it was happening. Public figures of any kind were collectively afraid to even question the invasion let alone object to it. You had the Dixie Chicks, Dr. Cornell West, Michael Moore and maybe three more people, because the level of backlash and scrutiny was so enormous. You were labeled anti American.
So back then, I had different players come up to me before games, after games, a few times actually during the games, send me messages or notes through a ball boy or text me and offer words of encouragement for me taking a stance against the war and now (mostly through social media) the same thing is happening again.
I understand why the hesitation to object to the Iraq invasion happened. Then President George W Bush made the point clear you’re either with us or against us. Period. End of discussion. So it begs the question, is that the exact message the NBA sent with its punishment and backlash and treatment of Kyrie Irving after he shared the link to the documentary “From Hebrews To Negroes” and advised everyone to watch it ? It’s important to note that Kyrie also added the caveat that he didn’t agree with all of the documentary but thought everyone should still watch it.
On my show The Collision “Where Sports And Politics Collide” I asked journalist and sportswriter Chuck Modiano who also is an American Jew and has been covering the massive record breaking protests in DC and NY calling for a Ceasefire by mostly American Jews, if the way the NBA came down on Kyrie silenced NBA players at least on this topic and this is what he told me….
http://archive.wpfwfm.org/mp3/wpfw_231207_100000collision.mp3
“There is no doubt that it had a reverberating effect. They had a whole six steps drafted by the ADL that Kyrie had to go through to get back in the good graces of the NBA which included giving the ADL money which was just ridiculous. It was a complete shakedown and it was absurd. So of course that was going to send a message to NBA players”
One of the main goals of my book We Matter “Athletes And Activism”
was to highlight the incredible surge of athlete activism that was happening after George Floyd, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and countless others were murdered at the hands of the police. That’s why I interviewed so many athletes from Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell, John Carlos, Eric Reid (who was kneeling with Kaepernick the entire time), Michael Bennett, Mahmoud Abdul Rauf, Craig Hodges D Wade, Carmelo Anthony, etc to discuss the importance and the power of the athlete voice and how it reverberates throughout the entire society when an athlete does speak out.
In my book I also interviewed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and asked him directly if he would ever suspend a player for voicing an opinion that differs from his and he told me directly that he wouldn’t. He talked about how much he valued the athlete voice and discussed Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul Jabbar and the great athlete activists of the past. But as everyone remembers, Kyrie Irving was suspended indefinitely after sharing the video. Not directly from Adam Silver but from Brooklyn Nets Governor Joe Tsai (who coincidentally never had to answer for his support of the Uyghur genocide, but I digress) Adam Silver actually tried to vouch for Kyrie and say after meeting with him that he wasn’t in his opinion anti semitic (although the need for that was puzzling)
But the whole entire ordeal did have an obvious effect on NBA players, at least on the topic of Israel as evidenced by the incredible current silence.
But it didn’t silence Kyrie Irving who recently sat at a press conference during the Dallas Mavericks game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a Keffiyeh on his head as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians. Given all of the backlash that he has received on this topic, it was bold, brave, defiant, and worthy of admiration and praise. Muhammad Ali also wore a Keffiyeh in solidarity with Palestinians as did Nelson Mandela. Malcolm X, Angela Davis, Huey P Newton, SNCC, all spoke passionately about Palestine throughout their lives. Now I’m not likening Kyrie to any of them, but what I am saying is that he is following in their footsteps and his courage will stand as an example of an athlete using their voice and platform to take a stand.
“Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe. But also, every Black Athlete cannot be Jim Brown or Kareem or Ali, you have to be who you are. But if you choose to stand up, you can’t be worried about the negative press or criticism or the people who will start to attack you on all fronts. You have to be strong enough to withstand that, ignore it, and keep your eyes on the prize.”
Bill Russell from interview in We Matter “Athletes And Activism”
Sent from my iPhone
