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Kendra AndrewsESPN
DALLAS — Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr, coach of the Western Conference finals, didn’t want any discussion about basketball at his pregame conference against the media. Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night
He said that basketball didn’t matter.
“Since the shootaround ended, 14 children died, 400 miles away. Kerr spoke out in reference to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas earlier Tuesday.
According to ABC News, at least 18 children have died since Kerr spoke. Two adults are also dead, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that the suspect was an 18-year-old Uvalde High School student who entered the school with a weapon and possibly a firearm. Greg Abbott said.
Although it was not immediately clear how many were hurt, Pete Arredondo (the chief of the school district’s Police) stated that there were “several injuries.”
Kerr shouted, “When are you going to do anything?” and slammed his fists against the table. “I’m tired. I’m tired of standing up to offer condolences and support for the grieving families. I am sick of the excuse, I am sorry silence. Enough!”
Kerr has always been outspoken against gun violence. His father, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Beirut 1984, left him with a long-standing passion for gun reform.
Kerr has repeatedly referred to H.R.8, including Tuesday, a bill that tightens background checks for firearm purchases. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives early in 2021 but did not reach the Senate floor.
“There’s no reason they shouldn’t vote on it. Kerr stated that Kerr was trying to keep power.
He looked at the camera and continued: [Senate minority leader] Mitch McConnell, I’m asking all of you senators to take action on violence at schools and supermarkets. I want to ask you this question: Are you going put your desire for power above the lives of our children, our elderly, and our churchgoers. Because that’s exactly what it looks like. It’s what we do every single week.”
Kerr is aware that Tuesday’s basketball game will be played. It will be a big game, with the Warriors having the chance to win their series against Dallas Mavericks and make it to the NBA Finals.
He urged everyone to remember the victims and urged them to stay focused. Jason Kidd, the Mavericks coach, shared similar sentiments.
Kidd stated, “We will play with heavy hearts tonight in support of the community and Robb Elementary School.” “As fathers and coaches, we have kids. People in this room also have kids. Elementary school is a place where you can think of what could happen to any of your friends or relatives at school. This is job training on the go, and we will try to play the game. We are forced to.
“The game will not be cancelled. We have to find a way for us to be professional and win. It is not only sad to hear about the events in Texas but across the country.
It was the worst shooting at a U.S. Grade School since the massacre that killed 20 children, six adults, and their teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary, Newtown, Connecticut nearly a decade ago. This happened 10 days after a gunman dressed in body armor shot and killed 10 Black grocery workers and shoppers at a Buffalo, New York supermarket. Authorities claim it was a racist attack. One person was killed and five other were wounded in a shooting attack at a Taiwanese temple in Laguna Woods in California just two days following the Buffalo mass shooting. This incident was called a “politically motivated hate crime” by the Orange County sheriff.
“I’m fed-up. Kerr declared, “I’m done.” “We cannot get numbed to this. We cannot sit there and think about it, and then go and have a moment to ourselves.”
Kerr made his final statement by hitting the table once more.
“It’s pathetic. “I’m fed up.”
This report includes information from The Associated Press.