Shaquille O’Neal is best known for being one of the most famous basketball players of all time — but he also has law enforcement training, and a few years ago he was considering running for Sheriff in order to heal the divide between police and the community.
In the video above from Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host asks O’Neal for his perspective on the protests against racism and police brutality currently sweeping America, following the killing of George Floyd, who died after three police officers pinned him down, one kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
“There’s an old saying that goes, ‘What’s right is right, what’s wrong is wrong.’ And what happened to George Floyd is all the way wrong,” says O’Neal. “I’ve never seen that technique taught. A lot of police officers I talked to would never do that. Everybody’s upset. Everybody’s tired. We demand justice. They tried to appease us by arresting one guy, but it was four officers out there. And I think people are just sick and tired.”
O’Neal goes on to say that he wishes there was someone in a leadership position who could bring people together in this time of unrest. He also shares his support for peaceful protests, and pays his respects to Floyd’s family.
“I never met Mr Floyd but I’m good friends with one of his best friends, Stephen Jackson, and according to Stephen he was a great man,” O’Neal says.
If you want to learn more about how to demand justice for George Floyd and help protesters, head here, or learn about how to donate to end police brutality, head here.