Udonis Haslem speaks up after Miami protests: ‘I want to be a part of the solution’
As crowds began to gather in downtown Miami on Sunday afternoon for the second consecutive day of protests, Udonis Haslem made an appearance at a press conference held by the City of Miami Police Department.
The Miami native and longtime Heat forward was among numerous community leaders who spoke at the press conference in the wake of Saturday’s demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed and handcuffed black man who died on May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer drove a knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while the man was face down on the ground.
During Saturday night protests in Miami, police used tear gas and rubber bullets on marchers. At least one police car was burned and dozens arrested.
“There definitely has to be justice for George,” Haslem said during a four-minute speech at Sunday afternoon’s press conference. “There definitely has to be protests for what happened to George. But I would be lying if I said that it has been gone about the right way. I would be lying if I said that I’m proud of what really has been going on.
“I have an obligation to this community because this community has done so much for me, but I also have an obligation to the police department, as well. So many of my family members come here [to work at the police department] every day. They work, take care of people, they make sure people are safe. There has got to be a better way.”
As Haslem and other community leaders spoke, crowds gathered at AmericanAirlines Arena to protest Sunday afternoon.
“I want to be a part of the solution,” Haslem continued. “We have to have a plan moving forward, it has to be together. ... As a black man raising black kids in America, I’m scared as hell. Way more scared than I ever was for myself. Way more scared than I ever was for myself. Not only black men and black lives, the other side of who protects those black men and black lives. Now you’re saying it’s in the community and we got to worry about the people that are supposed to protect us.
“I say to everybody, those people were terrible people before they put that badge on. They were terrible people before they put that badge on. For you to stand there and watch that, that ain’t got nothing to do with your badge, that has nothing to do with your color, that has nothing to do with your race. That’s something inside you that’s messed up. That’s your soul that ain’t right. So if you can stand there and watch that, I can’t say we can blame the whole armed forces and everybody who wears a badge. Ain’t no way.”
During an interview with the Miami Herald on Friday, Haslem said: “I understand the outrage and the pain and I’m just as pissed. Trust me, I’m pissed off. I don’t like it. But we just got to be careful about pointing a finger at all law enforcement. I say that because there are people in law enforcement that are good people and I want to make sure those people are safe and protected because those are family members of mine and they protect us.
“You just have to be careful about pointing a finger at all law enforcement. Those guys were terrible people before they ever put on a badge. The badge didn’t make those guys bad people. The badge just probably gave them a little more platform and power, but it didn’t make those guys terrible people. Those were terrible people before they put that badge on.”
Heat center Meyers Leonard made his voice heard on the issue through social media.
Leonard tweeted Sunday: “I was raised to love everyone. No matter the color of their skin. What’s going on in America right now is sad and in some cases, makes me angry. But how can I actually be upset? African Americans are racially profiled and judged continually in this country. I’ve witnessed it first hand. I’ve been in the competitive basketball space for over a decade and have been blessed to be around and learn about African American culture. I can’t claim to fully understand what some of my colleagues, their families, and others are experiencing ...
“But I do know one thing. I know right from wrong. The hatred has got to stop. The murders have got to stop. These men and women of color should not be afraid to leave their homes, and should be able to live their lives knowing they have the same opportunities. It’s taken me until this point to actually use my voice and to stand up for what’s right. I’ve always wanted to, but never had the courage. The time is now. It’s been days since George Floyd, it’s been over a month since Ahmaud Arbery, it’s been over a year since Russell Westbrook was attacked by a fan and it’s been TOO DAMN LONG that African Americans have been treated this way.
“Lastly — I’m fully aware that there are police officers, government officials and other people in power who are incredible human beings. I’m stating this here and now — My wife and I are going to help however we can. We will use or voices, we will continue to educate ourselves and we will do what’s RIGHT.”
Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo tweeted a quote Sunday afternoon from Harvard Divinity School professor Cornel West: “’Never Forget That Justice Is What Love Looks Like In Public’ #BLM”
For Haslem, making his voice heard is just part of the leadership role he has assumed in his hometown.
“I tell people all the time, my impact in this community is not going to stop just because I ain’t shooting a ball as much as I used to,” Haslem said. “Just because I don’t get the minutes that I used to get don’t mean that I’m going to fade away and you’re not going to see me or hear from me. I’m going to figure out a way to master the role that I have. The role that I have now is to be a leader. People say people are born leaders. I couldn’t have born for this. I would have never seen this coming. But I’m here now. It’s my responsibility to do something.”
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 5:04 PM.
