Golden State Warriors marksman Klay Thompson took to Instagram to implore his followers to seek justice for Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died in August 2019 when in custody of police.

The Warriors star wrote a lengthy message on his post:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB2HarNnVYb/

McClain was stopped after a 911 call described him as a “suspicious person” as he walked home from a convenience store in Aurora, Colorado. He refused to engage the responding officers, telling them “I'm an introvert, please respect the boundaries that I am speaking,” according to CNN.

One of the officers put McClain in a chokehold, and the 23-year-old lost consciousness but later regained it, receiving a dose of ketamine as a sedative from local paramedics.
During his ride in the ambulance, McClain suffered a heart attack and was declared brain dead in the hospital three days later, per the official report.

Adams County district attorney Dave Young declined to press charges in the case. The officers in question were initially placed on administrative leave and later reinstated.

The governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, said his administration will reexamine the McClain case after a petition that received over 2 million signatures urged new investigation into his death.

Thompson used his platform to bring light to one of the countless deaths at the hands of unnecessary police brutality:

“Elijah McClain,

“A gentle soul who played violin to lonely kittens in his spare time was murdered by Aurora CO police officers (who still roam free) for looking ‘suspicious' on his way home from the convenient store. Now remember, this is the same police force that apprehended James Holmes after slaying 12 people and injuring 70 others at an Aurora movie theatre midnight screening. They subdued him without a scratch on his body.

“There is no debate that men, woman and children of color are ‘policed' to a much harsher and catastrophic standard than white America.

“Waking up to the news of another murder of an unarmed brother, sister, mother, father or friend is so mentally draining and demoralizing and sometimes feels like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. But there is…it will take so much work and effort from conscious citizens across the globe. So many institutions need restructuring (voting rights, police procedures, minority representation in politics).

“Let's help bring justice to Elijah and his family. As well as so many others who will never be forgotten and rest in power.”

Thompson is one of many Warriors bringing light to social justice issues, following in the footsteps of coach Steve Kerr, backcourt mate Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Juan Toscano-Anderson as some of the most vocal in the organization.