Former NBA player Stephen Jackson says he’ll use his platform and “everything I have to get a conviction” for the four Minneapolis police officers who were fired after George Floyd’s death.
Jackson, like Floyd, is from Houston and they were friends. The handcuffed black man died after pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.
That officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The charges were announced shortly after Jackson spoke at a news conference organized by activists at Minneapolis City Hall. Actor Jamie Foxx and Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns were among those in attendance.
Towns, the city's franchise star, stood near Jackson wearing a “Black Lives Matter” hat and a black and white mask. It was a display of tremendous commitment for Towns considering his mother, Jacqueline, died from the coronavirus on April 13.
Respect! @KarlTowns know you goin through a lot bro! ✊🏾✊🏾💯💯 https://t.co/MEDHocxqyH
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 29, 2020
Other players, including Timberwolves' Josh Okogie, were in attendance as well.
"We need each other now more than ever," Okogie wrote on Instagram. "I am immensely disgusted in the amount of pain and suffering that my fellow black brothers and sisters have to endure until change happens. We can no longer be alienated and we can no longer normalize the injustices that this system of oppression feeds us. No more lives need to be lost."
Floyd could be heard repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" in the video. Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds, including nearly three minutes after Floyd stopped moving and talking, according to the criminal complaint.
The incident sparked outrage among the NBA community.
#JusticeForGeorgeFloydpic.twitter.com/1HjiwLMB8c
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 29, 2020
🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 https://t.co/ifcJ93TTKZ
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 29, 2020
On The Tragic Death of George Floyd: pic.twitter.com/0unVrmsgXz
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 29, 2020
Knee on my man neck!!! When does it stop?
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) May 27, 2020
JUSTICE WILL NOT BE SERVED UNTIL THOSE UNAFFECTED ARE AS OUTRAGED AS THOSE WHO ARE‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) May 27, 2020
GEORGE FLOYD. We will never forget you..
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 28, 2020
"I don't have no more tears honestly," Jackson said. "I've cried enough. I've cried enough. I'm here for one reason. For my brother's honor."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
