Emerald Garner, daughter of Eric Garner who was murdered by NYPD officer Daniel Panteleo had a lot to say regarding the backlash Kyrie Irving is collectively receiving.
Let’s do a quick recap of events that have occurred regarding Kyrie.
Kyrie shares a link for the documentary “From Hebrews To Negroes” without context, which caused a firestorm as many viewed this as an endorsement of the film.
At his initial press conference he expressed his reasoning for sharing the doc:
“When I post, it’s does not mean that I support everything that’s being said or everything that’s being done. Or I’m campaigning for anything. I post things for my people and my community”
He also said:
“I’m not a divisive person when it comes to religion. I embrace all walks of life. You see it on all my platforms. I talk to all races, all cultures, all religions. And my response would be, it’s not about educating yourself on what anti-Semitism is. It’s really about where the root words come from and understanding that this is an African heritage that is also belonging to the people.
Africa is in it, whether we want to dismiss it or not. So the claims of anti-Semitism, who are the original chosen people of God? And we go into these religious conversations and it’s a big no-no, I don’t live my way like that. I grew up in a melting pot, and I say a melting pot of all races. White, black, red, yellow, Jewish, Christian, Muslim. You see the way I live my life now, I’m not here to be divisive”
This was all prior to his spat with Nick Fidel.
This was met by a firestorm of criticism, condemnation and accusations of Kyrie being anti Semitic, endorsing and promoting anti semitic propaganda (which he clearly said he wasn’t doing) and ultimately being labeled as anti semitic.
He sent a lengthy apology on Instagram to the entire Jewish community and deleted the tweet, but was still suspended for a minimum of 5 games, labeled “unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets” by Nets Governor Joe Tsai, and given six steps to be completed before he would be allowed to return.
My personal interpretation of this was that Joe Tsai and the Brooklyn Nets were now looking to emasculate Kyrie Irving and dehumanize him. They want to make him say Toby. That his name is no longer Kunta Kente, but that it is in fact now Toby. Say what we believe is right. Meet with our rabbis, donate to our Anti defamation league that outlines the terms of what exactly is anti us, denounce any other belief, now prove to me that you have truly accepted that your name is Toby or else we’re going to tie you to this tree in front of everyone and literally beat you into submission to send a clear message to everyone what will happen if anyone dares to say or do anything like this again. And just so we’re clear, yes that is the exact tactic used on my ancestors during slavery that Joe Tsai and the Brooklyn Nets are using now on Kyrie Irving, He already apologized to the entire Jewish community and deleted the tweet. The situation should be over now.
I caught up with Emerald Garner (daughter of Eric Garner) who I just co wrote her book Finding My Voice, to see what her reaction was and if she had the same fear that I had, that this had the potential of silencing athletes again who have grown comfortable with using their voices and their platforms to speak out on crucial issues that face us today whether police violence and brutality, racism, injustice, and other social issues
Me: Do you think the backlash Kyrie Irving is currently receiving has the potential of silencing athletes ?
Emerald: I hope not. Listen, I don’t know anything about the film, and don’t support anti semitism in any form or fashion, but I didn’t actually hear Kyrie say anything anti semitic. And correct me if I’m wrong but he didn’t produce the documentary did he ? They’re acting like it’s his film
Me: No he didn’t produce it, but to be fair, he did share it without context, but he also cleared up his reasoning for sharing it in his initial press conference. Said he was just sharing it for the information and wasn’t endorsing or promoting the film. Said he didn’t even agree with all of it
Emerald: So, he apologized and deleted it right ?
Etan: Yes he did
Emerald: But he still has to go through all of these hoops before he gets to play again ?
Etan: Yes the six steps he has to take are: 1-He has toapologize and condemn the film Hebrews To Negroes (which is now a number 1 best seller on Amazon),
2-Make a $500,000 donation to anti-hate causes
3-Complete sensitivity training
4-Complete anti-Semitism training
5-Meet with the Anti Defamation League and Jewish leaders of their choosing
6-Meet with team Governor Joe Tsai to “demonstrate an understanding of the situation.”
Emerald: Wow that’s really a lot. So let me say it like this, officer Daniel Panteleo murdered my father in broad daylight on video and he didn’t have to do anything before he returned to active duty. I wrote about it in my book how traumatizing it was to actually see him laughing and joking with other cops on the street like nothing happened. He didn’t have to do anything. He didn’t even have to apologize to the family of the man he murdered. But they’re gonna make Kyrie do all this before he can play basketball ?
Etan: Wow, that’s a great point
Emerald: Listen Kyrie and Lebron and all the players on the Brooklyn Nets at the time and Kobe and all of the Lakers team all supported me at a time where every time I turned on the TV, I saw people justifying why they believed my father deserved to die.
Etan: Yea, a lot of people were quiet then but athletes weren’t. There started a new boom of athletes using their voices and their platforms. That’s why I wrote my book We Matter “Athletes And Activism”
and interviewed so many athletes as well as impacted family members to encourage the next generation of athletes to continue to use their voices and show the impact it has. My fear now is that after this, athletes may start being quiet again or even advised to be quiet again in fear of the Kyrie irving treatment.
Emerald: And that would be tragic. You have done an amazing job promoting that concept and yes there is great power in their voices. When I turned on the TV and saw all of the NBA players wearing I Can’t Breathe shirts…..I’m getting emotional right now
Etan: I’m sorry, I don’t want to trigger you
Emerald: No it’s ok. You know I always get emotional when we talk, and we talked about this in my book, but when I saw them wearing those shirts, it made me feel seen. That someone actually cared about what happened to my father. It didn’t feel like anyone cared. The police definitely didn’t show any remorse. They all stood around and watched as Officer Panteleo choked my father to death, then they all supported Panteleo, not one of them condemned anything. So many people supported Panteleo like they always do when the police murder someone. But it was Kyrie and NBA players who supported me, and my father loved basketball. He loved every New York team that existed. Even sports he wasn’t even that into. If they were New York, he supported them. He would’ve been so proud how they all supported him. I can see his big smile now. I can’t tell you how much I miss seeing that big smile of his
Etan: It’s so important that people know this, and understand this. I’ve gone on multiple programs recently saying that silencing athletes that you disagree with isn’t the answer, but to have actual dialogue is. And I really believe that.
Emerald: Listen, we have done enough speaking engagements for me to fully understand and be a supporter of dialogue. Of course it’s important. And not lectures but actually listening to because correct me if I’m wrong, but I didn’t hear Kyrie say anything bad or anti anything. He said I love everyone, I respect all religions, it’s like they’re trying to make him believe things that he didn’t say he believed. At least that’s how I see it
Etan: I definitely agree. I didn’t hear him actually say anything anti semitic. I’m just worried about the effect it will have on athletes moving forward. When I was playing, I had so many people warn me to be careful (including David Stern). I had other people who literally said you don’t want to get done like Craig Hodges or Mahmoud Abdul Rauf. I heard Shannon Sharpe initially say that on air on his show Skip And Shannon Undisputed about Kyrie. I see people putting that notion out there
Emerald: Well, that would be tragic if athletes did shut up and dribble. I’mma be honest, I didn’t realize the impact y’all have until I started working with you and talking to other impacted families who had athletes stand up for them. How Russell Westbrook spoke up for Terence Crutcher, how Stephen Jackson spoke up for George Floyd, how Lebron speaks up for a lot of families, how the whole Milwaukee Bucks spoke up for Jacob Blake. How the whole NBA spoke up for Breonna Taylor and I can go on and on and on. It’s important. Take it from me, it means everything
