Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom now has an NBA Hall of Famer on board to assist him in his criticism of the Communist Chinese government over their human rights abuses.
Freedom — who legally changed his name when becoming a U.S. citizen in November — has called out China and its leader Xi Jinping over the past month and a half, calling for a free Tibet, an independent Taiwan, calling on the Chinese government to “stop the genocide” of the Uyghur people, and challenging President Joe Biden to “stop playing games with bullies” ahead of his meeting with Jinping.
In one of his earlier posts, Freedom called on the Chinese government to “stop the genocide” of the Uyghur people.
“Heartless dictator of China, Xi Jinping, and the Communist Party of China, I’m calling you out right now in front of the whole world,” Freedom said in a video posted to social media. “Close down the slave labor camps and free the Uyghur people. Stop the genocide now.”
On Saturday, Freedom once again posted to social media to call out the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghurs. This time, he was joined by nine-time NBA All Star Dominique Wilkins.
“History is written in two ways: One, you can sit on the couch and watch how it’s written. Or two, you can do something about it and write history,” Wilkins said in the video. “Which side are we taking?”
“What is happening to the Uyghur people is one of the worst human rights tragedies in the world today,” Wilkins continued. “We cannot stay silent.”
Wilkins played 15 years in the NBA — 12 with the Atlanta Hawks — and was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Freedom went on to discuss the alleged “concentration camps” created for the Uyghurs.
“There is a genocide happening right now. The Chinese government is sending millions of Uyghurs to concentration camps where they are subject to torture, forced labor, rape, and sterilization,” Freedom said. “All simply because they embrace their own religion, their own culture, language, history, and identity.”
“All of us must spread the word and call on the Chinese government to free the Uyghur people,” Freedom continued. “We need to wake up, we need to speak up. Close the camps. Stop the genocide. Freedom for all.”
“What is happening to the Uyghurs is one of the worst human rights abuses in the world today.”
We can NOT stay silent
Huge thanks to my brother @NBA legend @DWilkins21 for being the strong voice of all those innocent Uyghur people in Concentration Camps
Stop the Genocide, now! pic.twitter.com/7qFKfknJEQ
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) December 11, 2021
Last week, Freedom turned his attention to Venezuela.
On Monday, Freedom took to social media to attack Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for his “human rights abuses.” He did so with the help of Juan Guaido, a U.S.-backed Venezuelan politician.
“We need to save Venezuela,” Guaido said in the video. “We have to save democracy. That’s the cause that motivate us, and that can save lives and future of millions of people. But we need our voices to be heard, and that’s why we thank the people that help us, people like Enes Kanter, who is fighting a courageous battle for freedom. He is a voice for millions who are suffering the oppression of powerful regimes that constantly violate the human rights of the people and humiliate their dignity.”
Freedom followed up the video with a message for those who were forced to flee Venezuela in recent years, alongside a new version of his custom shoes.
“I’m here to raise the voices of millions against a Dictatorship that made 6 million+ people flee [Venezuela],” Kanter Freedom posted to Twitter. “6 million+ people who are now looking for a chance to survive outside of their country & dreaming of returning home to hug their loved ones. We need to help [Save Venezuela].”
I'm here to raise the voices of millions against a Dictatorship that made
6 million+ people flee #Venezuela6 million+ people who are now looking for a chance to survive outside of their country & dreaming of returning home to hug their loved ones
We need to help #SaveVenezuela pic.twitter.com/RMy3cqCndj
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) December 8, 2021
Kanter Freedom has played in 16 games this season, averaging 4.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].