An Oklahoma lawmaker is very upset over NBA players kneeling during the National Anthem to fight against police brutality and social injustice.
He is so upset that he is attempting to use his leverage as a state representative to pressure Oklahoma City Thunder players to his will.
Rep. Sean Roberts (R-Hominy) issued a warning to the Thunder this past Friday to pull tax breaks for the team if players kneel during the national anthem while citing conspiracy theories about “Marxism.”
Via Kfor:
“If the Oklahoma City Thunder leadership and players follow the current trend of the NBA by kneeling during the national anthem prior to Saturday’s game, perhaps we need to reexamine the significant tax benefits the State of Oklahoma granted the Oklahoma City Thunder organization when they came to Oklahoma,” Roberts wrote in a statement.
The Thunder open up their restart of the season on Saturday when they take on the Utah Jazz.
Roberts’ full statement is as follows:
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“By kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, the NBA and its players are showing disrespect to the American flag and all it stands for. This anti-patriotic act makes clear the NBA’s support of the Black Lives Matter group and its goal of defunding our nation’s police, its ties to Marxism and its efforts to destroy nuclear families.
If the Oklahoma City Thunder leadership and players follow the current trend of the NBA by kneeling during the national anthem prior to Saturday’s game, perhaps we need to reexamine the significant tax benefits the State of Oklahoma granted the Oklahoma City Thunder organization when they came to Oklahoma. Through the Quality Jobs Act, the Thunder is still under contract to receive these tax breaks from our state until 2024.
Perhaps these funds would be better served in support of our police departments rather than giving tax breaks to an organization that supports defunding police and the dissolution of the American nuclear family.”
The act of kneeling began back in 2016 with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose intention was to protest police violence against black people.
