Celebrities and athletes continue to be inspired by their peers in efforts to speak out and use their platforms to address the national issues of violence and police brutality. Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets is the latest to speak his mind in an open letter penned on The Players Tribune entitled, “How Can I Help?”
How can I help?
That’s what’s going through my head when I turn on my TV and see Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James standing up for something important — speaking out, before millions, during prime time — and saying that enough is enough.
Walker referenced the message delivered by those four NBA veterans at the ESPYS.
How can I help?
There’s been so much devastating news this summer, especially in the past few months: gun violence, police killings, Orlando. These tragedies are heartbreaking and discouraging — people losing their lives for no reason. No one deserves that.
Enough is enough.
The owner of Walker’s team, Michael Jordan, made a statement this week along with a donation to help create solutions. Walker’s NBA peers, such as Carmelo Anthony, have been very outspoken and active in their roles to make this a widespread dialogue. Walker is simply following suit.
I’m a young player, and I look up to those guys who have made their voices heard. All of us do. And they’re calling on the rest of us to be a part of something that can lead to real change in this country.
We need to step up. And there is so much that we can do.
Basketball is a global game. The NBA, in particular, has a lot of influence. As players, we have a chance to voice our opinions, and people will actually listen. That means, in times like these, when people are hurting, we have the ability to give voice to those who don’t have our platform.
Nothing hard ever comes easy, and it could not be more clear that there’s so much more to do. Together, though, we can help move things forward.
I know we’re not politicians. I get that. But we’re also not just athletes.
Walker makes some candid and passionate points throughout his letter. You can tell he’s been genuinely inspired by his peers to be of help on this issue, and the more vigilant voices they have, the more powerful they can become as true agents of change.
