NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a> said he stopped being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys over what he called the organization&#8217;s stance regarding its players kneeling during the national anthem.
During the 37-year-old Lakers star&#8217;s appearance with his business partner Maverick Carter on <a href="https://twitter.com/LandonBuford/status/1585782157770891264?s=20&amp;t=9KUK8d4CbBwTyZb9j2tWVg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram Live</a> Thursday night, James was asked about his notable silence showing his fandom for the Cowboys, reports <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/lebron-james-is-no-longer-a-cowboys-fan-because-of-teams-alleged-stance-on-kneeling-during-national-anthem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS Sports</a>.
Carter told the basketball star that he hadn&#8217;t heard James &#8220;talk s*** about the Cowboys in a long time.”
“You still a Cowboys fan?” Carter asked.
&#8220;Nah man, I had to sit out on the Cowboys, man. It just a lot of things that [were] going on when guys were kneeling and guys were having freedom of speech,&#8221; James said. &#8220;And wanted to do it in a very peaceful manner. You know, a lot of people in the front office and a lot of people that ran the organization was like, &#8216;If you do that around here, you won&#8217;t ever play for this franchise again.’ And I just didn&#8217;t think that was appropriate.&#8221;
WATCH:
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LeBron James on why he’s not <a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallascowboys</a> fan anymore:
“Nah man I had to sit put on the Cowboys man. It just a things that were going on when guys were kneeling&#8230; [The] organization were like if do that around here you won’t play for this franchise again.”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DallasCowboys?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DallasCowboys</a> <a href="https://t.co/gYusCcs8KY">pic.twitter.com/gYusCcs8KY</a>
&mdash; Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) <a href="https://twitter.com/LandonBuford/status/1585782157770891264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I like a lot of the players on the team still,&#8221; he added, before noting that he had to &#8220;turn it in,” revealing which team he now favors.
&#8220;I&#8217;m all in on the [Cleveland] Browns,&#8221; James continued, throwing his support behind the team that currently stands at 2-5 for the season.
During the 2017 season, the Cowboys players did not join with other professional sports teams at the time who kneeled before the anthem. The owner of the team, Jerry Jones, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cowboys-owner-players-no-more-dissing-flaganthem-robert-kraychik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made it known</a> that kneeling wasn&#8217;t going to be supported.
&#8220;If there is anything disrespecting the flag, then we will not play,&#8221; Jones said at the time. &#8220;Period. We&#8217;re going to respect the flag and I&#8217;m going to create the perception of it.&#8221;
&#8220;I know this, we cannot &#8230; in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. So we&#8217;re clear.&#8221;
At one point on the show, James made an announcement that his show &#8220;The Shop&#8221; was going to be part of the November 17 Thursday Night Football broadcast.

New Orleans Pelicans v Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James Says He Stopped Being A Cowboys Fan Over Team’s Kneeling Stance

#TakeAKnee

Celebrities

Dallas Cowboys

LeBron James

U.S.

Following the England soccer team’s penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday, the three black players who missed their penalty kicks were reportedly subjected to disgusting racial abuse online, including monkey emojis, slurs, and taunts.
Following a goalless period of extra time, England and Italy were tied 1-1. During the penalty shootout, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, and Arsenal’s Bukaya Saka missed their penalty kicks for England, with Italy emerging victorious as a result. Rashford hit the post with his penalty kick, while Sancho and Saka had their attempts saved by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The racial abuse hurled at these players was — correctly — rejected by footballing organizations and public figures in England. The country’s <a href="https://twitter.com/FAspokesperson/status/1414388159769714690">Football Association</a> strongly condemned “all forms of discrimination,” saying they were “appalled by the online racism.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1414465103374729220">said</a> that “This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” and that “Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
However, the reaction of one England player to a statement by another politician — Priti Patel — raised an important point regarding the difference between opposing instances of racism and the unquestioning rejection of so-called &#8220;systemic racism.&#8221;
On Twitter, Priti Patel — the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary — said that she was “disgusted that England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.”
“It has no place in our country,” she added, “and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.”
Tyrone Mings, a member of England’s squad for the competition, rejected Patel’s condemnation.
“You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labeling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ &amp; then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens,” he tweeted in response.
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You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ &amp; then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens. <a href="https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2">https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2</a>
&mdash; Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialTM_3/status/1414655312074784785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Mings was referring to Patel’s description of the English team’s decision to “take the knee” prior to every game as “gesture politics,” and her refusal to criticize fans who booed the team for doing so.
In other words, Mings is arguing that Patel is responsible for instances of racism because she held an opposing view regarding the England team&#8217;s choice of &#8220;anti-racism&#8221; protest.
What we must realize here is that two things can be true at once. First, you can be critical of broad signals of adherence to an ideology with arguable links to “fighting racism.” Second, you can be critical of individual instances of racism. These two positions are mutually exclusive, and it’s both lazy and dangerous to argue otherwise.
“Taking the knee” has vast implications. For some, it’s a simple expression of “racism is bad.” For others, it’s a symbol demonstrative of a left-wing ideology that aims to destroy unrelated elements of western culture, while making the argument that racism is systemic in nature.
Patel — who is of Ugandan and Indian heritage — should not be forced from the platform of debate when it comes to systemic racism because she — like so many others — disagrees with the “take the knee” action or narrative. Moreover, one’s position on “taking the knee” should in no way imply that you endorse racism, or are responsible for any instances of racism that followed.
If you disagree with the broader argument that “taking the knee” is nothing but a statement that “racism is bad,” that doesn’t make you pro-racism. Mings is stunningly ignorant for claiming otherwise.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at<a href="https://twitter.com/ighaworth"> @ighaworth</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Tyrone Mings And Priti Patel

OPINION: Rejecting ‘Take A Knee’ Doesn’t Make You Responsible For Racism

England

Racism

Soccer

Systemic Racism

Since being benched by the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, former quarterback Colin Kaepernick has become a prominent activist, claiming to work in pursuit of racial and social justice. Kaepernick’s subsequent actions include the now infamous decision to kneel during the national anthem at NFL games, wearing socks depicting police officers as <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/colin-kaepernick-explains-why-he-wore-socks-with-police-pigs-on-them/">pigs</a>, and signing a multi-million dollar endorsement <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/colin-kaepernick-net-worth-how-much-will-nike-deal-pay-1103437">deal</a> with Nike.
This week, Kaepernick made headlines yet again, this time for <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/02/10/colin-kaepernick-becomes-latest-athlete-to-join-spac-craze/">becoming</a> the “latest athlete to join Wall Street’s SPAC craze,” teaming up with a private equity investor to form a blank-check company.
The former quarterback has <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/02/10/suns-minority-owner-jahm-najafi-partners-colin-kaepernick-investment-venture/6704777002/">reportedly</a> partnered with Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi, with the pair “looking to raise up to $287 million through a special-purpose acquisition company with a social purpose in mind.” Kaepernick will serve as co-chair and co-sponsor of Mission Advancement Corp., a “social justice-focused special purpose acquisition company.”
Known as SPACs, these are publicly traded companies which raise money to identify and purchase a “profitable and fast-growing company,” with the goal of merging with that company which then takes over the SPAC’s stock listing.
According to the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1840148/000121390021007796/fs12021_missionadv.htm">investment prospectus</a> filed by Mission Advancement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, they are looking to raise funds “with the goal of acquiring a billion-dollar, consumer-focused company with the potential to ‘generate a positive social impact.’”
“We believe Mr. Kaepernick’s substantial business experience combined with his long-term leadership on racial equity and justice issues will support our success in identifying a prospective target company and adding transformational value to the combined entity,” the prospectus reads.
“As a reflection of its socially conscious mission, Mission Advancement said its board of directors is composed entirely of people of color and a majority of its members are women,” reported the New York Post. “It also has a crew of advisers that includes Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay and Silicon Valley investor Ben Horowitz.” In addition, its board includes “Katie Beauchamp, the CEO and co-founder of Birchbox, and Omar Johnson, a former executive at Apple and Beats by Dre,” <a href="https://www.axios.com/colin-kaepernick-spac-740e5468-1273-473b-bfd4-7a2324edd2ff.html">and</a> “Attica Jaques, Google’s head of global brand consumer marketing.”
The quarterback-turned-activist is not the first athlete to enter the “booming” SPAC market. Forest Road Acquisition Corp., backed by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, recently “announced a deal to take the Beachbody fitness brand public,” and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez “filed paperwork last week to raise up to $575 million for a SPAC called Slam Corp. that will seek out acquisition targets in the ‘sports, media and entertainment, technology, and health and wellness industries.’”
Mission Advancement said that it will “emphasize the racial and diversity issues Mr. Kaepernick has championed on and off the field through its investment in the growing environmental, social and governance investment field.”

Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick Jumps Aboard SPAC Craze, Looking To Raise $287 Million For ‘Social Justice’ Company

Capitalism

Police Brutality

Social Justice

Fans booed as professional soccer players on FC Dallas and Nashville SC kneeled for the national anthem before their game in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday.
The players had initially requested that the anthem not be played before the game. Officials denied the request, so the players knelt while the anthem played to protest racial injustice. The fans apparently disapproved, booing the social justice demonstration. Nashville SC eventually won the game 1-0.
Dallas defender Reggie Cannon reacted to the crowd in a press conference after the game, saying that the crowd’s booing was “absolutely disgusting.”
“I think it was disgusting. I think it was absolutely disgusting. You got fans booing you for people taking a stand for what they believe in when millions of other people support this cause. And we’ve discussed with every other team, and the league, what we’re gonna do. And we got fans booing us in our own stadium. How disgraceful is that?” Cannon said. “Honestly, it, for lack of a better word, pissed me off. We discussed that prior to what we were doing. We discussed it with Nashville. Everyone from Nashville was on board. Everyone across the league was on board [with what we were gonna] do.”
“We asked for no anthem because we don’t feel it was right for the anthem to be played at this moment. They ignored our wishes. So we were gonna kneel regardless if the anthem was played or not. Unfortunately, it was played during these times where we asked for an anthem not to be played, and it pisses me off that you can’t even have support from your own fans in your own stadium,” Cannon continued.
Neither the Dallas nor Nashville team has played a game since the soccer season was suspended on March 12 because of the pandemic, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/fc-dallas/story/4158666/fans-boo-players-who-take-a-knee-before-dallas-vs-nashville-in-mls">ESPN</a>. Both teams were also barred from playing in an “MLS is Back” tournament in Florida earlier in August because of cases of the coronavirus that popped up among players on both teams.
“It’s baffling to me. As a team, we try to give the best possible product on that field, and these last six months have been absolute hell for us. Absolute hell. Because we have to watch other people play soccer and we’re just sitting at home, unfortunately, contracting COVID from the unfortunate situations that we were put in,” Cannon said.
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Professional athletes and sports organizations have stepped up efforts to mix in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/major-league-baseballs-twitter-account-aggressively-defends-kneeling-players">social justice</a> activism with sporting events since the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day, which sparked demonstrations across the United States over police brutality and racial inequality.
The NBA has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-to-paint-black-lives-matter-on-sides-of-disney-courts-allow-players-to-put-social-justice-messages-on-jerseys">painted</a> social justice messages such as “Black Lives Matter” on the courts of Walt Disney World arenas where the league is playing out the rest of its season amid the pandemic. Players have also been allowed to put a variety of approved social justice messages on their jerseys in place of their last names.
Floyd, a black man, died in police custody after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-police-bodycam-footage-shows-moment-by-moment-arrest-of-george-floyd-for-the-first-time">Video</a> of the arrest shows that Floyd resisted officers and complained about not being able to breathe before police held him on the ground.

FC Dallas

Pro Soccer Fans In Texas Boo As Players Kneel For The National Anthem

National Anthem

On Thursday, the Dallas Police Department released a video that championed police taking a knee in solidarity with people protesting the death of George Floyd, ending with Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall getting down on one knee.
The video begins with the statement: “To the communities we serve: We hear you. But before we move forward, we need to pause.” The video shows various police officers hugging people or kneeling with them, continuing, “To listen before we speak. And to kneel before we stand.” Then the video shows a row of police kneeling with protesters as the screen reads, “We join those in law enforcement who are stopping, listening and kneeling,” before the screen reads “Because Black lives do matter.”
The video then shows Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo telling a crowd, “If you’ve got hate in your heart for people of color, get over it. Because this city is a minority majority city. And this city is a city where blacks and whites and browns and legal and illegal all get together! Because we judge each other by the content of our hearts.”
Another policeman is featured saying, “I understand their frustrations. We just got to continue to try to do our best,” followed by another officer telling a crowd, “Let me take a knee with you. You’re going to have to help me up, though,” before he arises and states, “What happened to George Floyd was wrong.”
Another policeman tells a crowd, “We want to be with y’all, for real. So I took my helmet off and laid the batons down; I want to make this a parade, not a protest.”
Durham, North Carolina, Police Chief Cerlelyn &#8220;CJ&#8221; Davis <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/anymore-head-black-police-chiefs-group-calls-nationwide/story?id=71041580">states</a>,“We’ve got to continue to work together so that these types of opportunities to heal are done in a way where everyone is respected.”
The end of the video features Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall, accompanied by two other policeman and two other people who look like civilians, all getting down on one knee as she states. “Let’s work together to end racism.”
Author and pundit Dana Loesch responded, “Decent people abhor both injustice and moral deficiencies like racism and can do so without taking a knee. I take a knee to God in prayer and before His throne only but I’ll stand with the righteous against injustice.”
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Decent people abhor both injustice and moral deficiencies like racism and can do so without taking a knee. I take a knee to God in prayer and before His throne only but I’ll stand with the righteous against injustice. <a href="https://t.co/fB6p9JbeJk">https://t.co/fB6p9JbeJk</a>
&mdash; Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLoesch/status/1271157998166126594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/06/08/dallas-police-chief-renee-hall-policies-use-force-racial-bias/">CBSDFW</a> reported this week, “During a Public Safety Committee meeting Monday, Chief Renee Hall told council members she officially banned chokeholds, which have not been practiced since 2004. She also implemented a duty to intervene policy, ordering officers to stop other officers when they act inappropriately. She said next week the Dallas Police Department will institute a policy requiring officers to announce warnings before shooting.”
Video from Dallas Police Department below:
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The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

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WATCH: Dallas Police Dept. Releases Video Championing Taking A Knee To Fight Racism

Dallas