Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gave an angry and impassioned speech urging senators to pass tighter gun laws after the school shooting in Texas.
Like many Americans on Tuesday hearing news of an unimaginable school shooting in Texas, Steve Kerr is angry and frustrated.
An 18-year-old gunman opened fire in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 18 children and one adult.
When Kerr sat down for his press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s playoff game between the Warriors and the Mavericks, he had no interest in talking basketball. Instead, he used his time to urge those in power to do more to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
Steve Kerr called out senators after Texas school shooting
“Well nothing’s happened with our team in the last six hours, we’re going to start the same way tonight. Any basketball questions don’t matter,” Kerr opened. “Since we left shoot around, 14 children were killed 400 miles from here.”
Since Kerr spoke, additional victims have been announced.
The Golden State head coach referenced recent shootings in Buffalo and Southern California before becoming visibly angry.
“When are we going to do something!?” he said slamming his hand down on the table. “I’m tired of getting up here and offering condolences to devastated families that are out there. I’m tired of moments of silence. Enough.”
Kerr then specifically referenced a piece of legislation, H.R. 8, which would create universal background checks. While the House passed the law, the Senate has not taken it to a vote.
“So I ask you, Mitch McConnell and all you senators who refuse to do anything about the violence and school shootings and supermarket shootings, I ask you, are you going to put your own desire for power ahead of the lives of our children and our elderly and our churchgoers? Because that’s what it looks like.”
Kerr urged people not to be numb to Tuesday’s tragic events and to not settle for a moment of silence at a basketball game.
“We are being held hostage by 50 senators in Washington who refuse to even put it to a vote despite what we the American people want. They won’t vote on it because they want to hold onto their own power. It’s pathetic. I’ve had enough,” Kerr said, exiting the press conference.
Kerr has been outspoken about many social and political issues. This specific clip has gone viral across social media.