Cleveland Cavaliers great LeBron James has resisted efforts to protest a Cleveland grand jury's decision not to indict officers who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice, perhaps by refusing to play, saying the issue is bigger than him and he hasn't had all of the facts.
#ToMsRice campaign offers support to Tamir Rice’s mother
This Life: “Did Tamir’s life matter?”
Credit: Getty Images
Credit: Getty Images
"I haven't really been on top of this issue," he said during a press conference, ESPN reported. "So it's hard for me to comment...what we want more than anything is prayer and the best for the family, for anyone. But for me to comment on the situation, I don't have enough knowledge about it."
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
A Twitter campaign has urged him to take action such as sitting out of play following the controversial decision, but many commenters say it's unfair to expect James to take such action:
Asked about lending his celebrity to raise awareness, James said the issue is bigger than him:
"But I think the most important thing that we all need to understand, the most important thing, this issue is bigger than LeBron. This issue is bigger than me; it's about everyone. And gun violence and tragedies and kids losing lives at a young age, some way, somehow we need to understand that that matters more than just an individual."
