On Tuesday, prosecutors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, announced that there would be no criminal charges filed against the officers who shot and killed Jacob Blake seven times in the back. Blake’s death reverberated around the world as yet another example of how American law enforcement treats Black lives and was the spark in the NBA’s brief work stoppage in the NBA bubble, sparked by George Hill and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Shortly after the Bucks boycotted their playoff game, the rest of the league followed, including LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. After charges were not filed in the Blake case, James shared his disappointment with the verdict following the Lakers game on Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"To hear what happened in Kenosha today was a blow to the heart and to the gut. … We gotta continue to stay strong and continue to believe in each other."
LeBron James spoke on prosecutors not filing criminal charges against police officers in the shooting of Jacob Blake. pic.twitter.com/h9RzhgsvcX
— ESPN (@espn) January 6, 2021
James, like many in the NBA and across sports worldwide have expressed their disbelief and disappointment over the past few days regarding the lack of justice in the Blake case. Play in the NBA bubble was stopped for three days after the Bucks walked out from their playoff game against the Orlando Magic.
