Enes Kanter, who is quickly becoming the NBA’s moral conscience, released a new shoe design taking the league — and especially LeBron James — to task for failing to recognize the human rights crimes of NBA’s Chinese partners.
On Thursday, Kanter blasted his fellow players for “pretending to care” about social justice even as they ignore China’s horrendous record of human rights abuses all in the pursuit of money. More to the point, Kanter aimed his barbs directly at NBA star LeBron James — who styles himself as “King” James –by accusing James of putting “money over morals.”
“Money over Morals for the ‘King,'” Kanter sharply tweeted.
“Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice,” Kanter continued. “They really do “shut up & dribble” when Big Boss China says so.
“Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research?” He said.
Money over Morals for the “King” 👑
Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice
They really do “shut up & dribble” when Big Boss 🇳 says so
Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research? pic.twitter.com/YUA8rGYeoZ
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) November 18, 2021
China is currently one of the biggest violators of human rights in the world. Kanter also blasted Joe Biden for playing footsie with China. In a tweet posted Sunday, Kanter told Biden to “Stop playing games with bullies.”
President @JoeBiden & Dictator
Xi Jinping are scheduled to speak@POTUS
Stop playing games with bullies &
do what you promised to the world!
Prioritize Human Rights!Will @JoeBiden ask about Uyghur Genocide or assault on Tibetans & HK?
Or will they pat each other on the back? pic.twitter.com/kKwVNmb9ce
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) November 14, 2021
Kanter has focused on the abuses in China for the last several months trying to get his fellow players to begin to see the horrors that the communist giant forces on its minority populations.
To those of you who care about human dignity:
Please join me in spreading the word.
What is happening to the Uyghurs is one of the WORST human rights abuses in the world today.We can NOT stay silent!#FreedomShoes#FreeUyghurs pic.twitter.com/8Bjr4FiWR9
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 22, 2021
XI JINPING and the Chinese Communist Party
Someone has to teach you a lesson,
I will NEVER apologize for speaking the truth.
You can NOT buy me.
You can NOT scare me.
You can NOT silence me.Bring it on!! #FreedomShoes#XinnieThePooh pic.twitter.com/JFGEgIaXlN
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 24, 2021
To the owner of @Nike, Phil Knight
How about I book plane tickets for us
and let's fly to China together.We can try to visit these SLAVE labor
camps and you can see it with your
own eyes.@KingJames @Jumpman23
you guys are welcome to come too.#EndUyghurForcedLabor pic.twitter.com/241bg887JO— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 26, 2021
Kanter’s activism is not unfounded. In March, a report by the independent think tank Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy cites dozens of experts who agree that China is the worst human rights violator of the modern age. China, the report concluded, is indisputably guilty of genocide against the Uyghur people.
Kanter’s Celtics will face LeBron James and the Lakers on Friday night.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston.
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