Will Barton is calling for a revolution against racism in the United States. In an interview with Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Denver Nuggets forward—formerly with the Portland Trail Blazers—says that t-shirts, slogans, and protests aren’t enough. He cites direct action as the way to overcome multiple centuries of systemic oppression.
Singer’s article begins by recalling Barton with the Trail Blazers a half-dozen yeas ago, wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirt in remembrance of Eric Garner, who died at the hands of New York City police. Barton states flatly that a repeat of that protest during the NBA season restart next month is not sufficient in the face of continuing deaths and ongoing racism.