LeBron James Praises Governor Gavin Newsom’s Support Of Black Community

The California governor said at a news conference that “the black community is not responsible for what’s happening in this country right now.”

LeBron James praised California Governor Gavin Newsom’s words in support of the black community Monday at a news conference in Sacramento. 

Newsom spoke from a church and said: “The black community is not responsible for what’s happening in this country right now. We are. We are. Our institutions are responsible. We are accountable to this moment. Let’s just call that out.” 

James posted that quote on Instagram twice, writing: “The Gov!!” adding emojis of a prayer, a bicep flexing, a fist and a crown. 

The Black community is not responsible for what's happening in this country right now -- we are. Our institutions are.

We are accountable to this moment. People have lost patience -- I’ve lost patience -- because they haven't seen progress. pic.twitter.com/a4EBMrYJIj

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 1, 2020

There are protests across the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death last week. Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes in Minnesota on May 25.  

In addition to peaceful protests, there has been violence and looting in some cities across the nation. The death toll from the unrest is at least nine nationwide and more than 5,600 people have been arrested, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to emphasizing that the black community is not responsible for the turmoil, Newsom said this country has a responsibility to eradicate institutional racism.

“The community knows that and you’re seeing that manifested out in the streets the last five days," Newsom said. "They know that. The question is, do we deeply understand that? Are we prepared to do something differently about that, each and every one of us watching. What are we going to do differently, foundationally, fundamentally -- not in the short run, but in the long run to do justice to this moment.”