Udonis Haslem Speaks Out About Racial Injustice Protests

As protests continue to sweep the United States due to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat is speaking out on his hopes going forward. Haslem posted this statement on his Instagram following speaking at the Miami protests:

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I thank God my parents raised me to do what's right and not what's popular. Be a leader and not a follower!! Every lesson was preparing me to make those uncomfortable decisions in life. I have not only a obligation to this city but to my family and friends in the @mpdpolice. I wouldn't be here today on this platform without either side. We gonna come TOGETHER and figure it out!! If u from the crib u know we at the bottom of the map looking up. We always felt a way. That's why we grind. That why we push and overcome to achieve what they said we couldn't. You probably came from another country as a child and now you're a business owners, professional athlete, doctor, lawyer, etc. You worked your ass of for that. Came from nothing. You didn't come this far to lose it all now. Or to let someone take it away from u. Protest. Stand strong and tall for what u believe in. Justice for George must be served all around the world. But understand this, them dudes was cowards and pieces of shit before they ever put on that badge. That badge wasn't nothing but a scrap of metal they tried to hide behind. A coward gonna hide and a terrible person gonna do f***ed up shit. I'm here to help and make sure that our voices and cries are heard but not at the expense of anymore lost lives or damage to our local hardworking business owners or our communities. Let's stick together and keep them outta towners from ruining our home. And if u from here and you looting and carrying on, tighten up…. U tripping!!! #og

A post shared by Udonis Haslem (@ud40) on May 31, 2020 at 12:52pm PDT

Haslem is one of several NBA players, both current and former, who have turned up at protests around the country in the past few days, including Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Stephen Jackson, who was a friend of George Floyd.

Udonis Haslem is currently in his 17th professional season as a member of the Miami Heat, recently stating that he is mulling retirement.