A small group of Black Hebrew Israelites from the Bronx peacefully stormed the outside area of the Barclays Center on Wednesday, protesting the suspension handed by the Brooklyn Nets against Kyrie Irving.
According to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, the group gathered in front of the Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center train station exit, with one protester voicing out his condemnation of the team’s decision while addressing the local citizens and fans that were entering the building to watch the Nets’ marquee basketball face off against the New York Knicks.
“[Kyrie] is being persecuted for that statement of truth,” the mic’d-up protestor shouted. “He is being persecuted. He is being hazed by society today.”
Added by Winfield, the rallyists handed out pamphlets titled “The Truth About Antisemitism” to those who passed by. The pamphlets were said to be enabling the falsehood within the controversial film that was shared by Irving, including the notion that the Jewish people are “the synagogue of Satan.”
Irving has been out from the Nets’ team activities since Nov. 3, wherein the franchise imposed a suspension of at least five games. This sanction was rooted in the All-Star guard’s hesitancy to provide his apology and deny his antisemitism stances in his last media availability.
Irving drew public outcry after posting an Amazon link of “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” to his Twitter account. The said 2018 movie, based on the 2015 book of the same name, was initially flagged by the Rolling Stones for containing antisemitic tropes, conspiracies, and themes.
Brooklyn has posted its six conditions for Irving to make a return from playing. While there is no progress being provided yet, the embattled guard reportedly had a “productive” and “understanding” meeting with league commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday.
Amid his indefinite absence, the Nets have been splendid so far in the last four games he missed, going up 3-1 in the record ladder as they picked up the eventual dominant dub against the Knicks.
