Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr discussed something besides basketball in his pregame news conference heading into Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks on Many 24, ESPN noted.
"Since we left [our warm-up], 14 children were killed 400 miles from here. And a teacher," Kerr—who has been outspoken against gun violence—said, referring to the mass shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, earlier that day. (The latest official count has unfortunately been increased to 19 children and two teachers in the worst school shooting in Texas history.) "In the last 10 days, we've had elderly Black people killed in a supermarket in Buffalo, we've had Asian churchgoers killed in Southern California. Now we have children murdered at school."
"When are we going to do something?" Kerr yelled, slamming his fists on the table. "I'm tired. I am so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I am so tired of the excuses; I am sorry, I am tired of the moments of silence. Enough!"
Kerr continued, "So I ask you: [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell, I ask all of you senators who refuse to do anything about the violence and school shootings and supermarket shootings. I ask you: Are you going to put your own desire for power ahead of the lives of our children and our elderly and our churchgoers? Because that's what it looks like. It's what we do every week."
Kerr played 15 seasons in the NBA, including 1993-99 with the Chicago Bulls; with Michael Jordan back in the line-up after his first retirement, Chicago won three more championships with Kerr on the team.
On a secondary note, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Warriors 119-109; Golden State now leads their best-of-seven series three game to one.
