Members of the NBA community have been some of the most outspoken individuals when it comes to social issues, and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers proved that again on Friday evening.
Before the Bucks’ game against the Lakers, Rivers was asked about the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota by ICE agent Jonathan Ross and he did not mince words.
“What happened in Minnesota was a straight-up murder, in my opinion,” Rivers said. “And it’s awful. This lady was probably trying to go home, and she didn’t make it home and that’s really sad. The whole ICE thing is, it’s a travesty.”
Rivers’ comments echoes those made by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr earlier that day, in which the unabashed Kerr called the shooting “shameful.”
“It’s shameful, really, that in our country we can have law enforcement officers who commit murder and seemingly get away with it,” said Kerr. “It’s shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there’s video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying. So, very demoralizing, devastating to lose anyone’s life, especially in that manner. So it’s terrible, terribly sad for her family, and for her, and that city.”
The shooting, which has been viewed millions of times from different angles, took place after Good was approached by agents and ordered to get out of her car. After an agent attempted to open her car door, Ross stepped in front of the vehicle and as Good was trying to drive off, he shot and killed her.
While the Tr**p administration has unapologetically defended Ross’ actions, it’s clear to see that Ross was in no danger and could have simply stepped aside and let her drive away without harm.
Instead, he shot and killed the mother of three.
It’s yet another example of how, under the current administration and the MAGA ethos, anyone can be targeted and harmed without cause and be supported by a disgusting, racist, authoritarian and corrupt government.
Rivers wasn’t going to let the question go unanswered, especially as he recognizes that he’s a primary target of ICE and the administration.
“It’s clear, to me, we’re attacking Brown people, and I just happen to be Brown,” said Rivers of ICE’s activities. “And I don’t think it should just be Brown people who are upset at this. I think we all have to be.
“I don’t care what side of this thing you are on politically. What’s going on in our country right now is absolutely wrong, as far as the race stuff. The politics, I’m not gonna get into. The race stuff, I will. And it’s just wrong, and we have to do something, but the only thing we can do right now is keep speaking up because it doesn’t seem like they care and that’s troublesome.”
It isn’t Rivers’ first time speaking up, as he voiced his opinions last October over ICE’s presence in his hometown of Chicago.
However, after the suffering communities of color have had in the last year under Tr**p, he’s changed his tune from this past October from “This should be about the morality of our country and not about the race. This has nothing to do with Black and White. Black and White should be grabbing arms together on this one and fighting against this,” to letting everyone know that the actions of ICE definitely involve race.
And under Tr**p, attacks against Black and Brown communities can get anyone and everyone killed.
