Ear Hustle

Basketball Team Banned From Tournament For “I Can’t Breathe” T-Shirt Protest

i cant breathe

I have a very simple question.

What is so bad about people wanting individuals not to be choked to death on the street or being shot at when they aren’t armed or being killed playing with toys or walking in stores?

Why would anyone be against that? While you ponder that that, read this.

A high school basketball tournament on the Northern California coast has become the latest flashpoint in nationwide protests over police killings of unarmed black men.

The boys and girls varsity basketball teams from Mendocino High School were disinvited from a tournament that starts on Monday at nearby Fort Bragg High, because of concerns players would wear T-shirts with the words “I Can’t Breathe” printed on them while warming up.

Brian Triplett, the athletic director at Fort Bragg High, did not return a call and email seeking comment. Principal Rebecca Walker issued a written statement on Friday saying school administrators respected the Mendocino teams “for paying attention to what is going on in the world around them” and that the T-shirts were being prohibited as a security precaution.

The shirts are about NON-VIOLENCE, peace and equality, what are they so afraid of? What security precaution are they worried about? They are kids wearing a shirt with a message they hope people aren’t choked to death on the street, what is the problem? Isn’t that what you would want your kid to think or would you rather them think any time injustice happens they should bury their heads in the sand? Would you prefer them to think only SOME lives matter or ALL lives matter? Because by forcing them to stay home you are basically saying it is ok to support some deaths and some causes, but not the ones that make us uncomfortable. That is a horrible lesson to teach your children.

One adult breaks down the situation perfectly.

Marc Woods, whose 16-year-old son Connor plans to sit out the tournament, sees it. Connor wore the t-shirt at the 16 December game in the name of team solidarity, but “now that’s become a first amendment violation, that’s what he is fired up about”, the father said.

Woods said he was outraged by what he sees as using intimidation to silence players and fans. Fort Bragg administrators have warned spectators who plan to protest the t-shirt ban that they will be asked to leave, he said.

“It doesn’t take a lot to suppress the exchange of ideas when you put fear into it,” Woods said.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Photo does not reflect the Mendocino HS Basketball Team

Source: Black Sports Online

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