Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James offered his praise for Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke (D) after he showed his support and understanding for NFL players that kneel during the anthem.
King James saluted O'Rourke for his “candid, thoughtful words” who drove home a point, even in a historically conservative state like Texas.
A Must Watch!!! 🙏🏾💪🏾💯‼️ Salute @BetoORourke for the candid thoughtful words! https://t.co/E1YrbqGciZ
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 23, 2018
O'Rourke; who is vying for the spot of current Sen. Ted Cruz (R), offered a candid response — saying that kneeling was the modern day peaceful protest that people of color have chosen to bring up a bigger issue to their representatives.
The Texas candidate also compared their actions to other storied peaceful protesters who influenced change like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, who drove home movements that are now engrained in U.S. history.
Article Continues Below“Peaceful, nonviolent protests, including taking a knee at a football game to point out that black men, unarmed, black teenagers, unarmed, and black children, unarmed, are being killed at a frightening level right now, including by members of law enforcement, without accountability, and without justice,” O'Rourke said in the video.
O'Rourke added accountability in his own speech, saying that Senate hopefuls like him would be entrusted with helping to solve this social issue, as there has been frustration with “people like me, and those in positions of public trust and power, who have been unable to resolve this or bring justice for what has been done.”.
The video, which has gone viral over the last two days, ends with a poignant, yet accurate statement about what these NFL protests have been all about from the onset.
“I can't think of nothing more American than to peacefully stand up, or take a knee, for your rights, any time, anywhere, in any place.”
James has been more outspoken than ever on his support for political candidates in the latter stretch of his career, denouncing President Donald Trump for his actions, and recently taking matters into his own hands by building a school in his native Akron, Ohio.