NBA protest a proud moment for USC great Alex English, whose nephew was shot by police
Alex English was settled into his home in Blythewood on Wednesday afternoon ready to start watching the day’s NBA playoff slate when news broke that Milwaukee Bucks players could be sitting out their game against the Orlando Magic to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake and racial injustice happening in the United States.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, who was drafted by the Bucks in 1976, immediately recognized the significance of the moment.
“I just felt a chill. I was so proud and honored for them to use their platform to speak out against injustice. I was proud to be a former NBA player,” English told The State. “When they came out and said what the reasoning was I was a little shocked, but I was just proud to hear that they all were in solidarity and they wanted to make a statement.”
English, who played at South Carolina from 1972-76, said that it is important for NBA players to use their platform and make their voices heard.
The NBA ended up postponing all playoff games over several days. Other professional sports leagues joined them as the WNBA, NHL, MLB and MLS also had at least some of their games postponed Wednesday and Thursday after the shooting of Blake.
Blake was shot by an officer with the Kenosha, Wisconsin Police Department on Sunday, about two months after George Floyd, a black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.
“I think what’s happened is all the stuff, all the protests and the discussion that they had over George Floyd ... we got everybody on board like something was going to make change across this country,” English said. “Then a month and a half later we have something just as bad happen by police shooting an African-American male again. Shooting him in the back. No threatening moves, no nothing, but he gets shot in the back.”
The officer who shot Blake was a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department, The Associated Press reported.
“Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake, 29, while holding onto his shirt after officers first unsuccessfully used a Taser and as Blake leaned into his vehicle during an incident Sunday evening,” the AP reported. A family lawyer said Blake was paralyzed in the shooting, according to the AP.
Both incidents hit close to home for English, who had a nephew shot and killed by police in Columbia in 1994.
According to The State archives, Alphonso Glasgow was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a call for help in a domestic dispute on Aug. 22, 1994. Glasgow was carrying a wooden cane when he was shot in the chest. He died 20 minutes later at Richland Memorial Hospital.
According to a SLED report released after the incident was investigated, the officer said Glasgow was running toward him, with the cane raised to strike, and that he fired one shot at Glasgow when he was about three feet away.
Six witnesses gave a similar version of events. Two other witnesses said the shooting was unjustified. One witness said she saw Glasgow turn around, put the cane down, then tell the officer to go ahead and shoot.
“I have a nephew who grew up in Columbia, and he got killed unjustifiably here in Columbia by the Columbia Police Department and nothing ever happened. The policeman may still be on duty today,” English said. “This is after 20 years. He gets shot and killed — no reason.”
“So I understand the anger that the players feel because they feel like there is no justice. These police people who shot (Jacob Blake), they haven’t been arrested. Nothing’s been done. And it’s so blatantly criminal to see them shooting this man that’s walking away from them. Shooting him in the back with his kids in the car.
“They’re speaking up. They’re saying, ‘We’re tired of this.’ And what’s so wonderful about it is that other sports are joining in. They see what’s happening, the blatant racism.”
South Carolina has two former players currently taking part in the NBA playoffs in Nuggets guard P.J. Dozier and Heat forward Chris Silva.
Silva retweeted several posts supporting the protest, while Dozier offered his own thoughts on Twitter.
“It’s a difference between them hearing us and them listening! Time for sum to shake,” Dozier said.
English is hopeful that NBA players will find a way to finish out the season, while also fighting racial injustice. Games were to resume Saturday.
He is also hopeful that other sports will continue to join in and help them try to make a difference.
“I’m glad they’re using their platform and they’re speaking out, because the only way we’re going to get some change is if we have bold moves like this, nonviolent bold moves,” English said.
“I just think that there’s got to be conversation. It can’t just be the megaphone of the African Americans talking about injustice. It’s gotta be some of our white brothers and sisters speaking out as well. They’ve got to speak about it as well, and they’ve got to understand that they’ve been privileged a long time. They don’t have to worry about their sons, daughters and nephews being shot.”
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 9:09 AM.
