The death of George Floyd in Minnesota on Monday has compelled many to speak out against social injustice and police brutality.

As protests were taking place across the country, Friday night two prominent Sixers figures took to social media to convey messages.

The team’s current point guard, Ben Simmons, put out a short statement on Twitter.

Witnessing the news the past few weeks & hearing the outcry has given me a lot to think about. It is time for everyone, from all walks of life, to get comfortable with voicing & calling out the uncomfortable subject of Blatant Racism that exists heavily within our society.

— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) May 30, 2020

pic.twitter.com/bA7jZV3OY6

— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) May 30, 2020

Hall of Famer Allen Iverson’s message was shorter but no less powerful.

Damn, I thought this was our country too???!!! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #IStandTallWithYou @_stak5_ #IveHadEnough pic.twitter.com/0fd8ugqVDB

— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) May 30, 2020

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck while Floyd was handcuffed. The incident was caught on video by a witness. Chauvin was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers that were on the scene were fired.

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who knew Floyd personally while growing up in Texas, spoke as part of the protests in Minneapolis.

“To my white brothers, I love you. Every race here, I love you. But it comes to a point now, where if you love me and you not standing on the side of me, then your love don’t mean shit.” -Stephen Jackson pic.twitter.com/a0ZZe3fXMN

— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) May 29, 2020

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, a little over a month after losing his mother Jacqueline to COVID-19, also stood in solidarity with Jackson.

A ridiculously powerful image of Karl-Anthony Towns, who is still out there showing support for George Floyd despite recently losing his mother to COVID-19. He has proven to be a leader in his community and should be applauded for his tenacity and resilience. Salute, @KarlTowns. https://t.co/mvAMxglyft

— Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) May 29, 2020

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The death of George Floyd in Minnesota on Monday has compelled many to speak out against social injustice and police brutality.

As protests were taking place across the country, Friday night two prominent Sixers figures took to social media to convey messages.

The team’s current point guard, Ben Simmons, put out a short statement on Twitter.

Hall of Famer Allen Iverson’s message was shorter but no less powerful.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck while Floyd was handcuffed. The incident was caught on video by a witness. Chauvin was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers that were on the scene were fired.

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who knew Floyd personally while growing up in Texas, spoke as part of the protests in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, a little over a month after losing his mother Jacqueline to COVID-19, also stood in solidarity with Jackson.

Subscribe and rate Sixers Talk: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | YouTube

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

More on the Sixers

Ben Simmons, Allen Iverson join NBA players in speaking up in aftermath of George Floyd’s death originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Racism and police brutality in the United States of America took the life of another African-American on Monday. George Floyd, a 46-year-old man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck, while he was handcuffed and lying facedown on the street. In this video, recorded by bystanders, one could hear Floyd repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe,” but the police did not bother. Naturally, a lot of NBA Stars reacted to it.

The police officers had arrested Floyd because he had allegedly committed forgery. All officers on the scene were fired the next day but family members of the victim believe they should be charged for murder. Six years ago, Eric Garner, another African-American man, was killed by the police after being put into a chokehold. Garner too was saying “I can’t breathe,” before he suffocated to his death. His mother said Floyd’s death felt like “deja vu” and it forced her to relive her son’s death.

“I haven’t been the same since I’ve seen it.”

Stephen Jackson shares how he found out his friend, George Floyd, was murdered by Minneapolis Police pic.twitter.com/j8GUjAQuej

— Master (@MasterTes) May 28, 2020

NBA players express anger and call for justice

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson was a close friend of Floyd. They have been friends since they met in the 90s and he called Floyd twin because they looked so similar. While speaking to the Today Show, Jackson revealed how he was devasted when he found out. “I haven’t been the same since I’ve seen it. It shut me down man, I screamed I scared my daughter and I was punching stuff,” Jackson said.

The most heartbreaking thing was when Jackson said how he found out about it. “My girlfriend’s mom sent me the video and I was thinking it’s just another black man getting murdered by the police,” Jackson said. He realized what happened later after receiving messages regarding the murder. Such incidents take place so often that one loses track of it.

Steph Curry wrote a long angry paragraph on Instagram which ended with “George was murdered. George wasn’t human to that cop that slowly and purposefully took his life away.”

As much as you pray for George family, gotta also pray for the police officer(s) who were involved in this evil. As hard as it is, pray for them instead of hate them…Pray that God changes their hearts.

— Michael Porter Jr (@MPJr) May 27, 2020

Michael Porter Jr tweeted in support but faced backlash over it. He might have tweeted it in good faith but Twitter users were upset by the latter half of his tweet.

Reggie Miller, Isaiah Thomas, and Jaylen Brown are few other players who voiced out their opinion on Twitter.

I’m scared for myself and my BLACK kids with SOME of these crazy people and cops… I hope to God they don’t get into some stuff and the cops come and possibly KILL them

— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) May 26, 2020