Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Organizes Peaceful Protest in Downtown Atlanta
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Organizes Peaceful Protest in Downtown Atlanta
By: Baigen Seawell
Atlanta, GA — Around the country, people have become witnesses to the loss of black lives by the hands of police brutality. The losses of Ahmaud Abery, Breonna Taylor, and finally George Floyd on Memorial Day hit a deep nerve in the psyche of the black community.
Uprisings for justice started in Minneapolis and spread quickly, reaching major cities around the country. This triggered celebrities and politicians to come divided on the subject of whether violence is the answer. But, the importance of Black People using a platform in situations that directly affect a marginalized group is key because there are few of us that will get to reach the stratosphere where we can reach the voices of millions.
How one uses that platform in critical situations can make or break the entire foundations of which they worked so hard to reach. Athletes in particular have been scrutinized for riding the fine line of advocating for social action, and sticking to the skill of their sport. But it’s impossible for a Black athlete to ignore injustices that they face, regardless of what sport they play or how much money they receive from their contract.
A Georgia Native and growing NBA Phenom decided to ignore the criticisms of those around him and took immediate action, driving 15 hours from Boston to Atlanta, proving that his city is bigger than what was portrayed by mainstream media outlets.
Celtics Forward, Jaylen Brown organized a peaceful protest in the span of less than a day. He’s no stranger to social action and fellowship to his peers, speaking at summits at MIT and Harvard. The Marietta native and Wheeler High School Alum planned to start the at the CNN Center, which was damaged the day before, and end at the Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Site.
With the high risk of the CNN Center being damaged again, the location was changed to the MLK Memorial Site, where people would gather between 5:30 and 6:30pm. Brown would emerge from the crowd of onlookers, where he would share words as to why he was compelled to organize the demonstration.
“You may know me as an athlete, entrepreneur, educator, philanthropist. But first and foremost I am a Black man.” Said Brown. “I’m not gonna speak on anything that’s not new, everything that we’re seeing and experiencing is something from decades, centuries, ages ago. So as a 23 year-old […] some people from other generations ‘gone have to bare with us.”
Brown would not shy away from his pride in being Black, whilst peacefully walking and chanting through the Historically Black Sweet Auburn District. Bystanders would cheer on the crowd marching down Auburn Avenue, through Georgia State University and finally stopping at the Georgia State Capitol Building.
“We can’t take no more! There’s no more cheeks left to turn!” Said Brown. “Since I was in high school all I’ve seen is Trayvon Martin, all I’ve seen is Oscar Grant […] that’s all I’ve seen! All I know is traumatic instances!”
Aside from Brown, fellow NBA player, Malcolm Brogdon and rapper, Lil Yachty would join Brown on the march through the streets of their home, giving positive remarks to the crowd.
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The protest was almost entirely peaceful, though three people were wrongfully arrested by the Atlanta Police Department, according to Brown. The motive was thought to be due to the risk the protesters were while occupying the streets of the empty Georgia State University Campus through the march.
Brown plans on assisting the three with legal fees, and continues to advocate against the horrors of police brutality.
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