Georgetown wears 'I Can't Breathe' T-shirts

[Halldan1]

Hoyas latest to don protest shirts


By Eamonn Brennan | ESPN.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Georgetown Hoyas became the latest athletes -- and the first in college basketball -- to don "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts before Wednesday night's game against No. 10 Kansas.

The entire Hoyas roster took its final pregame warmup of the evening in black shirts with white font. A team spokesman told ESPN.com the decision to wear the shirts was made collectively between the players.

The shirts quote the final words of New York City man Eric Garner, who died in July after a police officer placed him in a chokehold during an arrest for selling loose cigarettes. A video recording of the incident showed Garner repeatedly saying "I can't breathe." On Dec. 3, a New York grand jury declined to indict the officer involved in Garner's death, sparking waves of protest about Garner's case specifically and police conduct more generally.

The Garner decision followed a Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury's decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, as well as a Cleveland police shooting of unarmed 12-year-old Tamir Rice.

To date, several NBA players have worn the "I Can't Breathe" shirts during their pregame routines, including the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Garnett and Deron Williams, and, on Tuesday night, the entire Los Angeles Lakers roster.

The NBA has thus far declined to fine players for violations of uniform rules. Section 22, Article 2 of the NCAA men's basketball rulebook states merely that "warm-ups are any pieces of clothing worn by team members that must be removed before they become players," and are "not considered part of the uniform."

NFL players have also donned the shirts during warmups.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12012164/georgetown-hoyas-wear-breathe-t-shirts

 

[TheBluePirate]

I expect this to be not a popular position on this board, but frankly I am completely aligned with how important this protest is. We are talking about the fundamental principkes of our identity as a nation and as a people on this earth.

 

[Halldan1]

 

[hallgrad80]

I wonder if any of these athletes who are wearing these shirts would wear one protesting the death of 53 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty by gunfire or being stabbed.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

If I were a Hoya fan, I would be proud of my team.

 

[chickenbox]

Originally posted by hallgrad80:
I wonder if any of these athletes who are wearing these shirts would wear one protesting the death of 53 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty by gunfire or being stabbed.

It's not controversial to say citizens shouldn't kill police officers - it is, apparently, to say the reverse

 

[TheBluePirate]

Originally posted by chickenbox:

Originally posted by hallgrad80:
I wonder if any of these athletes who are wearing these shirts would wear one protesting the death of 53 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty by gunfire or being stabbed.

It's not controversial to say citizens shouldn't kill police officers - it is, apparently, to say the reverse

Precisely. It does not diminish the sadness of the loss of these to look at the wholesale suppression (by which I mean the harassment, degradation and execution of countless many for decade upon decade without any hope of remission).

 

[SHUMatt]

These type of things are doing a disservice to society. We are saying it is okay to resist arrest.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Originally posted by Muggsy Blue:
If I were a Hoya fan, I would be proud of my team.

If you're not breaking the law you have nothing to worry about. If a cop tells you to stop or put your hands where he can see them, listen.

 

[JIMSOULS]

And if the person doesn't listen, it doesn't mean they should be murdered.

 

[SPK145]

Originally posted by SHUisNJsTeam:

Originally posted by Muggsy Blue:
If I were a Hoya fan, I would be proud of my team.

If you're not breaking the law you have nothing to worry about. If a cop tells you to stop or put your hands where he can see them, listen.

Yeah, obeying the law is evidently not an option.

 

[SPK145]

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:

And if the person doesn't listen, it doesn't mean they should be murdered.

Who was murdered? You do know the definition of murder, right? Murder is what happens on the streets in Newark/Chicago, usually black on black. Where are those t-shirts?

 

[bd98]

So sick of this. I don't care what you're protesting. I don't care who you support. You don't bring this nonsense onto the court/field with you. Time for the NFL/NBA/NCAA etc. to put a stop to this nonsense. Go protest on your own time. You protest anything while in uniform you get suspended. The end.

 

[catholicman]

I don't have a problem with the Hoyas wearing those tee shirts. Generally, I don't think it's good to mix politics with sports. But, if people don't have a way to express their frustration constructively, it leads to bigger problems.

Also, even though I have a police officer in my family, I really believe the police in virtually every state and municipality need to change their ways. They need to have more diversified training, including psychological. When a person is getting arrested and initially expresses angst or frustration, this doesn't warrant a brute force response. Patience and talking would have been appropriate with the late Mr. Garner. They didn't give him any time to collect himself taking him down with a choke hold

I am still upset by the incident that took place in Garfield, NJ a couple of years ago. A young man who had a warrant for his arrest turned himself in to the police station. As he was being processed he panicked and fled. They hunted him down. He was hiding in someone's garage. They told him to come out. He was scared and wouldn't come out. So they shot him dead. He was unarmed.

 

[JIMSOULS]

SPK, choking someone to death is murder.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Originally posted by SPK145:

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:

And if the person doesn't listen, it doesn't mean they should be murdered.

Who was murdered? You do know the definition of murder, right? Murder is what happens on the streets in Newark/Chicago, usually black on black. Where are those t-shirts?

Must be on back order!

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Originally posted by bd98:
So sick of this. I don't care what you're protesting. I don't care who you support. You don't bring this nonsense onto the court/field with you. Time for the NFL/NBA/NCAA etc. to put a stop to this nonsense. Go protest on your own time. You protest anything while in uniform you get suspended. The end.

Agreed!

 

[HallsBalls]

It's ok to wear these shirts so long as people are ok with it and support the cause. What's to stop players from wearing antiabortion or tradition marriage shirts. These players should support any cause they like on their own time...not on the court or field.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Originally posted by SHUMatt:
These type of things are doing a disservice to society. We are saying it is okay to resist arrest.

Exactly! Why does someone breaking the law have more rights than the guy trying to enforce the law?

 

[JIMSOULS]

Older white men scared of young black men speaking their minds. I wonder what the Seton Hall players would think of this?

 

[TheBluePirate]

So is it okay for cops to wear "I support Darren Wilson" bracelets ON DUTY but wrong for players to wear "I can't breathe" warm up shirts?

 

[catholicman]

Pro-Life and traditional marriage tee-shirts: Now You Are Talking!!! (i am serious)

 

[SHUSource]

I think this is going well...
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[TheBluePirate]

Originally posted by SHUisNJsTeam:

Originally posted by SHUMatt:
These type of things are doing a disservice to society. We are saying it is okay to resist arrest.

Exactly! Why does someone breaking the law have more rights than the guy trying to enforce the law?

Wrong! Blacks and non-whites are constantly living with few or no rights, subject to arbitrary execution and the police are not held accountable - no indictments, no trials for brutality! You have it totally wrong.

 

[HALL85]

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:

SPK, choking someone to death is murder.

Ahhhh, if you read anything about the case, he wasn't "choked" to death. But that doesn't fit your agenda.

 

[hallgrad80]

Time to either move this to another Board or to block further posts as we're getting far away from a sports issue but into a purely political/ societal , highly contentious issue with very strong views on both sides .

 

[JIMSOULS]

The best thing about this thread is that actual young people are making older people think about important issues. That is a good thing.
This post was edited on 12/10 9:42 PM by JIMSOULS

 

[SPK145]

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:

SPK, choking someone to death is murder.

No, murder includes the intent to kill. There was no intent to kill here, you don't really believe that, do you?

A horrible tragedy no doubt, but the cops are the law, they have to be obeyed. The cops could have prevented this tragedy by not using the chokehold but Garner could have stopped this much earlier if he didn't resist.

 

[HallsBalls]

Cops used less than lethal force to arrest a man who was resisting. It's a tragedy he died but this is sadly one of those freak accidents.

 

[HALL85]

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:
I don't have an agenda. I just want to see cops brought to justice when they commit a crime.

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:
I don't have an agenda. I just want to see cops brought to justice when they commit a crime.

Hard to take you serious when you don't even know the facts of the case.

Much of this thread speaks to the dumbing down of society...the attention span to read a sound byte on a tee shirt rather than understand the facts, judicial process and recommend solutions if change is warranted. Much easier to protest and loot to get your Christmas shopping done.

 

[JIMSOULS]

HALL85,

You talk about "dumbing down," then paint all protesters with a "looting" to get their Christmas shopping done paintbrush?

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Originally posted by TheBluePirate:

Originally posted by SHUisNJsTeam:

Originally posted by SHUMatt:
These type of things are doing a disservice to society. We are saying it is okay to resist arrest.

Exactly! Why does someone breaking the law have more rights than the guy trying to enforce the law?

Wrong! Blacks and non-whites are constantly living with few or no rights, subject to arbitrary execution and the police are not held accountable - no indictments, no trials for brutality! You have it totally wrong.

What about Dillon Taylor? Seems this was OK and not newsworthy because Taylor, a white guy, was killed at the hands of a black cop. Dillon also broke the law and didn't listen to cops but no on is all up in arms because he died. Why?

if you don't break the law you have nothing to worry about.

What about Dillon Taylor?

 

[Halldan1]

I think it's time to move this thread off the sport's board.

It's late now so I will do that first thing in the morning and everyone can continue the debate on Life off the Ship.

 

[Flnj86]

A 20 yr old who was drinking with his friend, left the bar and preceded to walk home. On the way home he decided to ring the door bell of a police officer and run, this had been done at the same house in the past. The police officer who had a wife with a young baby at home, decided to chase the young adults, leaving the house without his gun belt or stun gun, instead going without a uniform and his gun in hand. He got in his car and chased them , one ran into his home blocks away and the other was stopped outside the same house on the lawn. The police officer told him to get on the ground which he did but the police officer said he got up and charged after him and they wrestled on the ground. A neighbor looking out the window said he saw the 20 yr old on the ground but did not see him run at the police officer- instead he saw the officer walk toward the boy. When they wrestled on the ground the police officer said he tried to grab his gun and he shot him twice killing him. The boy never caused trouble in school and had no weapons or no prior arrests. The police protocol says a cop off duty is suppose to call for uniform officers and not leave their house to chase a person. The cop's reason was that he feared for the safety of his wife and baby- the person was running from his house so why would he get in his car leaving his wife and child at home alone to chase the person who rang his doorbell? Thee could be other people outside his home and if he wanted to protect his wife and child he should of stayed in his home. He was pissed because people had been ringing his doorbell. They made a big issue that the boy was drinking but no one checked to see if the cop had been drinking at home( he also owned a bar). This cop had been dishonorable discharged from the military and was written up for anger and not listening to a superior while a cop. This police officer was Spanish and the boy was white. Many people in the town were very upset and then the cop walked away without being charged with anything. Just because a cop wears a uniform does not mean they are always right or a good person. My Dad always said he believed that many people with a sadistic personality were cops, some cops believe that they are above the law because they are wearing a uniform. Just like there are good people and bad people, there are good and bad cops. There needs to be regular mental testing of cops. One of my friends who I use to work out at the gym with, never drank,smoked or did drugs, he continued to work out after I stopped and met a state trooper at the gym. This trooper was a wrestler at Penn St and used steroids when working out. He convinced my friend to start using steroids, can you imagine a trooper with a gun on steroids arresting someone ( what if he has roid rage).

This post was edited on 12/10 10:03 PM by Flnj86

 

[shupat08]

Originally posted by Flnj86:
A 20 yr old who was drinking with his friend, left the bar and preceded to walk home. On the way home he decided to ring the door bell of a police officer and run, this had been done at the same house in the past. The police officer who had a wife with a young baby at home, decided to chase the young adults, leaving the house without his gun belt or stun gun, instead going without a uniform and his gun in hand. He got in his car and chased them , one ran into his home blocks away and the other was stopped outside the same house on the lawn. The police officer told him to get on the ground which he did but the police officer said he got up and charged after him and they wrestled on the ground. A neighbor looking out the window said he saw the 20 yr old on the ground but did not see him run at the police officer- instead he saw the officer walk toward the boy. When they wrestled on the ground the police officer said he tried to grab his gun and he shot him twice killing him. The boy never caused trouble in school and had no weapons or no prior arrests. The police protocol says a cop off duty is suppose to call for uniform officers and not leave their house to chase a person. The cop's reason was that he feared for the safety of his wife and baby- the person was running from his house so why would he get in his car leaving his wife and child at home alone to chase the person who rang his doorbell? Thee could be other people outside his home and if he wanted to protect his wife and child he should of stayed in his home. He was pissed because people had been ringing his doorbell. They made a big issue that the boy was drinking but no one checked to see if the cop had been drinking at home( he also owned a bar). This cop had been dishonorable discharged from the military and was written up for anger and not listening to a superior while a cop. This police officer was Spanish and the boy was white. Many people in the town were very upset and then the cop walked away without being charged with anything. Just because a cop wears a uniform does not mean they are always right or a good person. My Dad always said he believed that many people with a sadistic personality were cops, some cops believe that they are above the law because they are wearing a uniform. Just like there are good people and bad people, there are good and bad cops. There needs to be regular mental testing of cops. One of my friends who I use to work out at the gym with, never drank,smoked or did drugs, he continued to work out after I stopped and met a state trooper at the gym. This trooper was a wrestler at Penn St and used steroids when working out. He convinced my friend to start using steroids, can you imagine a trooper with a gun on steroids arresting someone ( what if he has road rage).

flnj... We don't agree often... But on this one, I'm right there with you.



This post was edited on 12/10 10:02 PM by shupat08

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Originally posted by Halldan1:
I think it's time to move this thread off the sport's board.

It's late now so I will do that first thing in the morning and everyone can continue the debate on Life off the Ship.

Why? This is actually about a conference mate and what happened at their game. How would people here react if this happened on our home court? It's political but it is about college sports. There have been other topics on this board in the past far more worthy of being moved that remained here.

 

[anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0]

As someone stated previously why does someone committing a crime have more right than those who are in charge of enforcing laws?

We have lost our way as a society. The common factor in all these cases has been that a crime was committed. When society starts debating how the cop reacted instead of why people are committing the crimes, than you kniw there is no accountability for peoples actions. The sports field is not the place for these protests. If Peyton Manning throws a TD and reveals a I Support Darren Wilson tshirt, you better believe he is losing endorsements. If you dont follow the medias agenda you will be screwed.

 

[SHUPirate08]

Originally posted by chickenbox:

Originally posted by hallgrad80:
I wonder if any of these athletes who are wearing these shirts would wear one protesting the death of 53 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty by gunfire or being stabbed.

It's not controversial to say citizens shouldn't kill police officers - it is, apparently, to say the reverse

It is also apparently not controversial when whites get killed by minorities. It is just accepted as normal. Where are the tshirts and protests? Oh I remember now, most whites work and can't take off to protest in the street all day.

 

[SHUPirate08]

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:

And if the person doesn't listen, it doesn't mean they should be murdered.

Non-minorities get murdered by minorities every day for doing far less. In fact, just for being a non-minority. I'm sure you are familiar with the "games" called Knockout aka Polar Bear Hunting? Where are the protests over that? The Knockout craze is one of the more horrific occurrences you could imagine and yet more people protest over known criminals most likely getting what they deserve. Typical American ignorance.

 

[SnakeTom]

Originally posted by TheBluePirate:
I expect this to be not a popular position on this board, but frankly I am completely aligned with how important this protest is. We are talking about the fundamental principkes of our identity as a nation and as a people on this earth.

I agree with you Blue Pirate. I also think the right to protest and excercise free speech is inherent to our democracy and is not restricted to what is considered popular thought.Who are we to decide that only those we agree with have the right to protest. Who are the athletes harming by expressing their opinions???

TK