NBA star Aron Baynes pens powerful letter on racism

Phoenix Suns star Aron Baynes has penned an emotional open letter on how he used to be “ignorant” and “uneducated” about racism.

Australian NBA star Aron Baynes has penned a powerful letter on racism and how he transformed from a “silent bystander” growing up in a white majority small Australian town to understanding ignorance is not a crutch.

The Phoenix Suns centre said it breaks his heart people would judge his children, or any other child, based on the colour of their skin.

“I’m usually a private person,” Baynes, who grew up in Mareeba, in Far North Queensland, wrote.

“Most people don’t know that my wife is black, and we have mixed race children.

“I am grateful for them as they have taught me as much about myself as I have taught them about the world.”

The pursuit for equality is a global issue, a fight for our human race, our country, our community, our colleagues, our friends. I will do all I can within my own sphere of influence to make sure love, acceptance and understanding are paramount and that ignorance has no place. pic.twitter.com/bcpzuRnOrG

— Aron Baynes (@aronbaynes) June 4, 2020

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Baynes’ words come after the death of George Floyd, an African American man, during an arrest by police in Minneapolis last week.

Baynes detailed how when he was aged around 16 he came to understand racism came in all shapes and sizes and now as “a father and a man” will not stand for it.

“I grew up ignorant,” he wrote.

“I grew up uneducated.

“I grew up as part of the problem — part of the white majority in a small Australian town.

“Don’t mistake me.

“I didn’t dislike any certain individual because of their race or culture.

“But I didn’t support them either, which was just as bad.”

He vowed to do all he can “to make sure love, acceptance and understanding are paramount and that ignorance has no place”.

— AAP

CURRY MARCHES WITH ANTI-RACISM PROTESTERS

NBA player Stephen Curry chanted the name “George Floyd” as he and some of his Golden State Warrior teammates joined a throng of protesters at a peaceful march in California on Wednesday.

Curry, along with Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney and Damion Lee, participated in the Oakland march to protest the killing of Floyd, an African American man who suffocated as a white police officer knelt on his neck on May 25 in Minneapolis.

As some protesters called for others to “Say his name”, Curry was among those shouting their response: “George Floyd.” The march took place in the same location as the NBA club’s championship rallies and parades.

“We’re all here for the same purpose, not just for black people,” said march spokesman Juan Toscano-Anderson.

“Right now it’s about black people, but for humanity. There’s people all over the world being oppressed.

“And we’re just trying to take a step in the right direction and start something — me and my boys, my brothers. Thank you guys for being here.”

Floyd was in custody for allegedly using counterfeit money to try and buy cigarettes when Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.

Chauvin, who was fired, was initially charged with third-degree murder, but prosecutors changed it to second-degree murder on Wednesday.

— AFP