Charlotte Hornets: Nicolas Batum speaks out against racial injustice
The Charlotte Hornets were represented by two players during one of the protests in Charlotte to fight against racial injustice.
During a time of much frustration occurring in the United States, the Charlotte Hornets still managed to be represented at one of the uptown protest marches against racial injustice.
As the country grieves the death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man who was killed by a police officer on Memorial Day, many still continue their fight to end racial injustice. Even during this time, the Hornets have offered a lot of support.
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Recently, Nicolas Batum spoke out against racial injustice. Baum told the media that players should use their platform to help be an advocate for the issues they believe in. Batum even noted that he and his wife joined protestors on June 2nd.
Batum said that he and his wife are disgusted with everything going on. He said, “We felt like we had to go and show support to the cause.” Even though that night got a little violent, Batum said that everything was positive while he was in attendance.
Batum told the media that he joined the protest for his four-year son Ayden. Batum said, “I just want to make sure I can be part of the solution for my son (Ayden) later, so he doesn’t have to face it.” He also noted that he attended a similar protest in Europe when he was 16.
However, Batum was not the only Hornet at the protest, as Terry Rozier was also in attendance. In terms of if the protest was peaceful, Batum said “There was violence (at some protests) and maybe you can be scared of it. You never know what can happen. But you take the risk.”
Even though Batum and Rozier were the only players at the June 2nd protest, many of the team’s players have also used their social media platforms to share their messages about racial injustice.
As of now, Batum is set to likely be with the Hornets during the 2020-21 season since he’s on a player-option. During the 2019-20 season, Batum saw one of his worst seasons, as he averaged 3.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Nicolas Batum’s leadership must be appreciated since he is one of the few players on the team who attended the protest. However, Michael Jordan also made a contribution, as he pledged $100 million over the next 10 years to help aid social justice programs.
Next. Michael Jordan speaks out on George Floyd's death. dark
As the Charlotte Hornets continue to assist the community during these times, the team will be looking toward the future, as the 2020-21 season will likely start in December.