Jason Whitlock, the sports columnist, on Wednesday joined the social media storm that followed a tweet from NBA star LeBron James that critics say posed a threat to the police officer who fatally shot a teenager from Columbus, Ohio.
James, who is from Ohio, has spoken out on various social justice issues, posted a photo of the officer on Twitter and wrote, “You’re next. #ACCOUNTABILITY.”
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James deleted the tweet, saying he did this because he was “being used to incite more hatred.”
“This is not about one officer. It’s all over the system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more RESPONSIBILITY. ‘ ‘
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James was referring to Tuesday’s deadly shooting in Columbus, minutes before the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Police broke protocol and released bodycam footage of the incident, which seemed to show a black girl attacking another female with a knife. The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. State law allows police to use deadly force to protect themselves or others, and investigators will determine whether this shooting was such a case.
The girl was identified as Ma’Khia Bryant, 16.
Whitlock, who is Black, responded to one of James’ tweets: “Black teenage girl tried to stab a black teenage girl. 7 year old black girl was shot at McDonald’s drive thru. Silence. No tweets. You’re not tired. Young black girl. people killing each other. Silence. No despair. How come? “
Whitlock appeared to be referring to Jaslyn Adams’ death on Sunday at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Chicago around 4:30 pm. Her father was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds, Fox 32 said. The shooter is still at large.
The Columbus shooting sparked community protests and calls from Ohio State University students calling for the school to cut ties with the police.
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Whitlock’s tweet isn’t the first time the Laker has been criticized for what some call selective outrage, particularly last year’s China fap by the NBA.
The Associated Press contributed to this report