Carmelo Anthony has been very vocal lately as it pertains to police brutality, Black Lives Matter, and other athletes standing up for what’s right. Most recently, WNBA players have come under fire for wearing black t-shirts instead of their normal warm up shirts, in protest of police brutality towards African Americans. For violating the uniform police, the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever teams were fined$5,000 each and their players $500.
“I don’t see no reason to fine them,’’ Carmelo Anthony said Thursday before team practice at UNLV. “If anything, you should want to support them. I don’t know details, but don’t see a reason to fine them.”
Carmelo continued, “A bunch of teams did it. Everyone has their own freedom of speech if they decide to use the platform. I don’t see no reason for anybody to get fined. We did it [3½ years ago after the Trayvon Martin shooting]. The NBA did it. The NBA was very supportive. I don’t see any difference in this matter. Right now the players have a very strong stance in what they believe in right now. I don’t think anyone should be fighting that at this moment.”
Carmelo Anthony says that he is planning a meeting in Los Angeles once the the Olympic team returns to the city for practice. “Still organizing, [but] I don’t want to call it a town hall,” Anthony said. “I like to call it more a conversation. We want to get some of the local politicians. We want to get youth, kids, adults, officers, teachers, community leaders and athletes just there having this conversation and this talk. Both sides hearing each other out.’’
