Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose made a statement on Saturday night before the game even started. On Monday, he said why he did it.
Rose warmed up for the game wearing a T-shirt with the phrase "I Can't Breathe" emblazoned across the front, in a nod to the New York man who died on July 17 after a police officer placed him in chokehold when he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. The point guard said his decision to wear the shirt because he feels it's important as a father and as a product of an impoverished neighborhood, to speak up.
"Usually I stay out of politics and I stay out of police brutality," he said Monday. "What happened them days was uncalled for and I think it hurt a lot of people and hurt the nation. But my biggest concern is the kids. I know what they're thinking. I was one of those kids. And when you live in an area like that and you don't got any hope and police are treating you any way -- I'm not saying all police is treating kids bad -- but when you live in an area like that it gives you another reason to act bad."
