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Anti-Vaxxers Chant "Let Kyrie Play" In Chaotic Protest Outside Barclays Center Before Nets Opener
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 25, 2021
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John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 25, 2021
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Around 100 anti-vaxxers protested outside of Barclays Center on Sunday before the Brooklyn Nets' home opener. Many of the protesters were holding signs saying "Stand With Kyrie" or chanting "Let Kyrie Play," invoking Nets star Kyrie Irving, who has been banned from participating with the team until he complies with New York's COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.
There were also chants about "Nazi Passports" and other signs reading "We Will Not Comply." One protester told ABC News of Irving, "He's doing something that Kaepernick did, he's basically doing the same thing, he's like taking a knee and I'm happy that he did that—you understand?"
Among the protesters was Hawk Newsome, previously identified as a Black Lives Matter leader by the NY Times, who could be seen leading several of the chants. He later tweeted, "It’s never a game. It’s bigger than a game. We are talking about Black Lives. Folk can’t work, can’t eat, can’t travel. Naaaa!" Newsday's Barbara Barker also saw "kids with Trump hats" protesting alongside people in BLM shirts.
You can see video of the scene on Sunday below.
While this is not the first anti-vaccine mandate protest to take place in New York since the city changed its rules to require vaccinations to take part in many activities, this was a markedly more chaotic one, with several people pushing through the barriers to get to the front doors of the arena, where they stood nose-to-nose with security guards.
An NYPD spokesperson said that no one was arrested during the incident, although Barclays was forced to shutdown its entrance when the standoff happened.
A Barclays Center spokesperson told Gothamist, "Barclays Center briefly closed its doors yesterday in order to clear protestors from the main doors on the plaza and ensure guests could safely enter the arena. Only ticketed guests were able to enter the building and the game proceeded according to schedule."
Both the Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden require all employees and players, as well as most fans, to show proof of vaccination to enter. Although Irving could theoretically participate in away games in states without such vaccination mandates, the Nets have not allowed that so far, saying the "imperative that we continue to build chemistry as a team and remain true to our long-established values of togetherness and sacrifice."
Irving has missed the Nets' first three games of the season so far as a result; the Nets lost to the Charlotte Hornets 111-95 in their home opener. He has not released any statement about the protests so far.
During an Instagram Live video last week, Irving did attempt to explain his reasoning for not getting a vaccine: "I chose to be unvaccinated, and that was my choice, and I would ask you all to just respect that choice," Irving said. "I am going to just continue to stay in shape, be ready to play, be ready to rock out with my teammates and just be part of this whole thing. This is not a political thing; this is not about the NBA, not about any organization. This is about my life and what I am choosing to do."
There is no indication that NYC officials are planning to lift the vaccine mandate anytime soon, although mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa tweeted cryptically after the protest, "In my New York City, Kyrie Irving would be back playing in Brooklyn’s starting 5."
All scientific evidence has shown that COVID vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and death from coronavirus, including the delta variant. In addition to clinical trials, there has also been intense monitoring of vaccines around the country, which have been found to be safe, with serious or long-term side effects rare.
According to data released in September, unvaccinated New Yorkers were 21 times as likely to be infected or hospitalized as vaccinated people, and only approximately 0.04% fully vaccinated NY residents had experienced breakthrough infections so far this year.
Tagged
COVID-19
kyrie irving
nets
brooklyn nets
barclays center
anti-vaxxers
anti-vaccination
protest
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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