Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Stephen Curry, Ayesha Curry and Klay Thompson participated in protests in Oakland on Wednesday.
Today’s professional athletes are more vocal about social issues than ever before, and in the wake of George Floyd’s tragic murder by police and more than a week of Black Lives Matter protests in response, it’s no surprise to see prominent faces in the NBA publicly join the movement.
At an event organized by Golden State Warriors teammate Juan Toscano-Anderson, Stephen Curry, his wife Ayesha, Klay Thompson, Damion Lee and Kevon Looney all showed up to a peaceful protest at Lake Merritt Amphitheater on Wednesday.
With Steph wearing a mask due to the coronavirus pandemic and a “ThroughThisTogether” T-shirt, and Ayesha donning a black mask with the words “A Tribe Called Oakland” on it, the Currys joined nearly 1,000 people marching and chanting “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” in Oakland.
Curry’s teammate, Klay Thompson, was also seen wearing a white mask and taking a knee in a powerful photograph:
Stephen Curry, Ayesha Curry and Klay Thompson are the positive examples of unity we need right now.
Even at a peaceful protest where most people’s faces were covered by masks, having NBA players — especially ones as prominent as a two-time MVP like Curry and a five-time All-Star like Thompson — speaks volumes not only about how significant this moment is in American history, but also how impactful it is to have some of the most famous black athletes in this country peacefully protesting in solidarity with everyone else.
Curry, Thompson, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Stephen Jackson — the NBA has had no shortage of social activists on full display in recent years, so none of this should be surprising.
But these images and videos encourage others to follow suit and make their voices heard, which is exactly what our country needs right now.