Former NBA star Charles Barkley told CNN Wednesday that the National Basketball Association should pull the league’s 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, North Carolina after the state eliminated local governments’ ability to pass anti-discrimination measures in late March.
“I think the NBA should move the All-Star game from there next year. As a black person, I’m against any form of discrimination—against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it. It’s my job, with the position of power that I’m in and being able to be on television, I’m supposed to stand up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves,” Barkley said in an interview surfaced by Deadspin. “So, I think the NBA should move the All-Star game from Charlotte.”
Barkley said Atlanta has expressed interest in hosting the game.
This isn’t the first time Barkley said sporting events should move from states which pass discriminatory legislation. In
Watch the full interview:
He endorses moving to Atlanta where lawmakers want the same measures. They were only saved by their face-saving governor.
Bravo, Charles! We’re told every day how there is no GOP establishment…so, what agency is coordinating all these absurd yet nearly identical state legislative efforts across the South?
Shunning is a time honored method of isolating and driving away unwanted people. The trick is pulling off the shunning of such a vast expanse of citizenry.
Let see. Retired 16 years ago. Great player–but was an asshole… Was a Republican asshole, now an “Independent” asshole. Just a general asshole. So, lets all pay close attention to what Sir Charles has to say.
I remember when he was on the other side of this issue. I love how far he’s come on LGBT equality.