Share
HONG KONG — When the ball smashed into a photo of LeBron James’ face stuck above the hoop and dropped into the basket, the Hong Kong protesters cheered.
James’ standing among basketball fans in Hong Kong took a hit because of comments the NBA star made about free speech. Fans gathered on courts amid Hong Kong’s high-rise buildings Tuesday to vent their anger.
The player for the Los Angeles Lakers touched a nerve among protesters for suggesting that free speech can have negative consequences. They have been protesting for months in defense of the same freedom that James said can carry “a lot of negative.”
The protesters chanted support for Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, something of a hero among demonstrators in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory for having tweeted in support of their struggle, infuriating authorities in China.
‘People Are Angry’
What the crowd of approximately 200 people chanted about James wasn’t printable.
“People are angry,” said James Lo, a web designer who runs a Hong Kong basketball fan page on Facebook. He said he’s already received a video from a protester that showed him burning a No. 23 jersey bearing James’ name.
He expects more, given the backlash from protesters who’ve been regularly hitting the streets of Hong Kong and battling police because of concerns that the international business hub is slowly losing its freedoms, which are unique in China.
“Students, they come out like every weekend. They’ve got tear gassed and then they got gun-shot, like every weekend. Police beating students and then innocent people, like every day. And then he (James) just comes up with something (like) that. We just can’t accept that.”
James made his comments in response to a question about whether Morey should be punished for his tweet that reverberated in China and had consequences for the NBA.
Protesters Said James’ Comments Smacked of a Double-Standard
“Yes, we do have freedom of speech,” James said. “But at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others, when you only think about yourself.”
Protesters said James’ comments smacked of a double-standard, because he’s used his clout as a sports headliner to press for social causes in the United States.
“Please remember, all NBA players, what you said before: ‘Black lives matter.’ Hong Kong lives also matter!” one of the protesters, 36-year-old office worker William Mok, said in addressing the applauding crowd.
Others said LeBron’s comments made it seem that he’s more worried about money than people.
“James was trying, you know, to take a side, on the China side, which is like ridiculous,” said Aaron Lee, a 36-year-old marketing director. “He was being honest, financially. Financial is money. Simple as that. LeBron James stands for money. Period.”
RELATED TOPICS:
Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight
2 days ago
Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase
2 days ago
613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN
2 days ago
Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man
2 days ago
Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal
2 days ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco
2 days ago
Russia Pounds Kyiv With Largest Drone Attack, Hours After Trump-Putin Call
2 days ago
How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again
23 hours ago
Categories

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man
