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Stephen Jackson, Karl-Anthony Towns attend rally in support of George Floyd

admin — Sat, 30 May 2020 18:00:48 +0000

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson says he’ll use his platform and “everything I have to get a conviction” for the four Minneapolis police officers who were fired after George Floyd’s death.

Jackson, like Floyd, is from Houston and they were friends. The handcuffed black man died after pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.

That officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The charges were announced shortly after Jackson spoke at a news conference organized by activists at Minneapolis City Hall. Actor Jamie Foxx and Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns were among those in attendance.

Towns, the city’s franchise star, stood near Jackson wearing a “Black Lives Matter” hat and a black and white mask. It was a display of tremendous commitment for Towns considering his mother, Jacqueline, died from the coronavirus on April 13.

Respect! @KarlTowns know you goin through a lot bro! ???? https://t.co/MEDHocxqyH

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 29, 2020

Other players, including Timberwolves’ Josh Okogie, were in attendance as well.

“We need each other now more than ever,” Okogie wrote on Instagram. “I am immensely disgusted in the amount of pain and suffering that my fellow black brothers and sisters have to endure until change happens. We can no longer be alienated and we can no longer normalize the injustices that this system of oppression feeds us. No more lives need to be lost.”

Floyd could be heard repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe” in the video. Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds, including nearly three minutes after Floyd stopped moving and talking, according to the criminal complaint.

The incident sparked outrage among the NBA community.

#JusticeForGeorgeFloydpic.twitter.com/1HjiwLMB8c

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 29, 2020

??????????? https://t.co/ifcJ93TTKZ

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 29, 2020

Knee on my man neck!!! When does it stop?

— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) May 27, 2020

JUSTICE WILL NOT BE SERVED UNTIL THOSE UNAFFECTED ARE AS OUTRAGED AS THOSE WHO ARE

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) May 27, 2020

1/ What happened to George Floyd is unacceptable and disgusting beyond words . What the officer did should be punished to the fullest extent. How in the world can someone like this be hired to serve and protect us! Praying for George Floyd’s family and for all ppl impacted by

— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) May 30, 2020

GEORGE FLOYD. We will never forget you..

— ? Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 28, 2020

“I don’t have no more tears honestly,” Jackson said. “I’ve cried enough. I’ve cried enough. I’m here for one reason. For my brother’s honor.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ex-AFL coach Dean Laidley bailed to attend rehab

admin — Mon, 11 May 2020 05:49:55 +0000

Former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley has been granted bail to attend a residential rehabilitation facility and says he is looking forward to getting the help he needs.

The ex-West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne player has been behind bars since May 2, when he was arrested over accusations he had been stalking a woman.

Dean Laidley just before his resignation as North Melbourne coach in 2009. (The Age)

Former teammates, coaches and club doctors have lined up with letters of reference for the 53-year-old, who is battling longstanding mental health issues.

Laidley is accused of stalking a woman, with whom he’s in a financial dispute over a property.

He phoned her 43 times on May 2, police told Melbourne Magistrates Court today.

It’s also alleged he contacted her body corporate asking for CCTV footage, which prosecutors argue was to stalk her.

Laidley’s barrister, Phil Dunn QC, said his client was fighting allegations he had been involved in aggressive confrontations with the woman at the apartment complex and suggested CCTV footage could be used as evidence that she was not telling the truth about their interactions.

He asked that Laidley be released into the care of a 24-hour residential rehabilitation clinic where he’ll receive treatment for longstanding issues including gender dysphoria and substance abuse.

North Melbourne President James Brayshaw and Dean Laidley after Laidley quit as North Melbourne coach. (The Age)

“He’s not a bad man. He needs help and he’s prepared to accept this help,” Mr Dunn said.

Former AFL coaches Mark Williams, Guy McKenna and Denis Pagan wrote references for Laidley, as did his former North Melbourne teammates Brent Harvey and Wayne Schwass and ex-club president James Brayshaw.

Mr Dunn said Laidley had lived in a structured football bubble for 30 years and issues had crept to the surface since leaving the AFL.

“This man here now is a very different person to those who knew him and knew him well,” he said.

He said there were serious concerns for Laidley’s mental health.

Former North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley. (Sebastian Costanzo, The Age)

The AFL Players Association will fund Laidley’s in-house care at the facility, which offers 24-hour supervision, drug testing and treatment.

An officer said police had concerns Laidley would offend if he was released.

He told the court Laidley had taken a number of photos of the property where the complainant lived, as well as asking for CCTV footage, and he had repeatedly called and sent her text messages.

After he was arrested, police found 0.3g of crystals in a plastic bag inside an adhesive bra Laidley was wearing, as well as loose crystals believed to be methamphetamine, the officer said.

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Rory Best declines to explain decision to attend rape trial of teammates as IRFU media manager steps in – Independent.ie

admin — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 18:00:57 +0000

He also declined to comment on whether the IRFU had any prior knowledge of his attendance at Belfast Crown Court during his day off on Wednesday.

After two questions of Best’s regular pre-game engagement, the IRFU media manager stepped in to say that Best would only talk about tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against France at the Parisian venue.

Later, when asked if he was aware of the controversy on social media around his involvement due to his decision on Wednesday, the press officer again stepped in before Best could reply.

Best attended court proceedings alongside Ireland second-row Iain Henderson and Ulster team-mate Craig Gilroy.

Jackson and Olding are accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in June 2016, with Jackson also facing an additional charge of sexual assault. They both deny the charges.

A third man, former Ulster Academy player Blane McIlroy, is charged with indecent exposure, while ex-UCD and Belfast Harlequins player Rory Harrison is accused of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.

All four deny the charges.

When asked about Ireland’s unusual position as favourites in tomorrow’s game, Best said the team were not getting carried away.

“I don’t think the favourites tag is something we’ve talked about. By and large we give the opposition the respect we deserve, we treat every opposition as they come and study them,” Best said.

“Our record here hasn’t been great, we’ve stressed that to the guys who haven’t been here before. That Champ win four years ago came down to the wire, we got a slice of luck but you make your own luck.

“Our standards are very high, we’ve players who are used to winning and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to perform and put pressure on each other.”

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