NFL, NBA Stars Protest Eric Garner Decision with ‘I Can’t Breathe’ T-Shirts

Several professional sports stars protested the grand jury’s decision not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in the choking death of Eric Garner by wearing “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts during their respective warm-ups Sunday. The line is reference to what Garner yelled while in an NYPD chokehold, and has become a rallying cry for the protests that have rattled New York City.

Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush scrawled the words on his warm-up shirt:

Reggie Bush #ICantBreathe #DetroitLions pic.twitter.com/SVmAi8uhia

— Zo! (@Zo3hree5ive) December 7, 2014

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose practiced in a printed t-shirt:

Bush and Rose were joined by numerous other players on Saturday, some of whom penned their protests on their sneakers:

R.I.P Eric Garner pic.twitter.com/i84grny7pR

— Davin Joseph (@DavinJoseph75) December 7, 2014

These come after players for the St. Louis Rams made a “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture in reference to Michael Brown’s shooting death in nearby Ferguson. The growing trend of athletes making political statements on the field has not gone unnoticed:

Derrick Rose has upped the ante for protest on NFL Sunday & for rest of NBA. Not an opinion. That's just a fact now going forward.

— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) December 7, 2014

[Image via screengrab]

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