Many high-profile sports figures, including Warriors coach Steve Kerr and LeBron James, took to social media to show their outrage over George Floyd’s death, which happened after he was pinned down by police in Minneapolis.
But the death of the 46-year-old Floyd that ignited a nationwide controversy was much more personal for former Warriors star Stephen Jackson.
Growing up together in the Houston area, Jackson and Floyd looked so much like each other that the two close friends called each other “Twin.” They’ve remained close over the years, which is why Floyd’s death on Monday was so devastating for the former Warrior.
By Wednesday afternoon, Jackson had 13 Instagram posts about Floyd’s death, some showing the two of them together.
“This what I gotta wake up to? This what I gotta wake up to, huh?” a teary eyed Jackson said in between sniffles in one post. “Floyd was my brother, man. Everbody know me and Floyd called each other ‘Twin.’ A brother only was out there in Minnesota because he was changing his life. He went to Minnesota. He was driving trucks. I just sent him two or three boxes of clothes.
“My boy was doing what he was supposed to do, man. And ya’ll go and kill my brother.”
Video from the cellphone of a bystander showed an officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck as the man pleaded he could not breathe.
Four Minneapolis officers involved in Floyd’s arrest were fired a day after the incident as an investigation was being launched. But that’s done little to slow the outrage.
Kerr was among those from the sports world expressing their disgust for what happened.
“This is murder. Disgusting. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with US????” Kerr tweeted.
This is murder. Disgusting. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with US???? https://t.co/wesEwd4Bb2
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) May 26, 2020
James, Colin Kaepernick and others were also sickened over the incident.
“Worlds honestly sickening. It really is….. no explanation,” Browns widereceiver Odell Beckham Jr. said in a Twitter post.
James showed his frustration in an Instagram post, referencing Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback who stirred debate when he knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.
#StayWoke
James shared a photo of the officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck side-by-side with a photo of Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem and this caption: “This … Is Why. Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you??#StayWoke”
Kaepernick, who still hopes to return to the NFL one day, shared the split screen image on his Instagram stories.
Former WNBA star Lisa Leslie posted, “If anybody that follows me is not outraged about these senseless attacks on BLACK MEN, please stop following me! If your spirit is not disturbed, please stop following me! This inflicted Painbut it will never inflict FEAR… sorry, were not made like that! #BlackMenMatter”
Field Level Media contributed to this report.