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Ex-NBA Player Royce White Gives Speech at Protests After George Floyd's Death

Paul KasabianSenior ContributorMay 30, 2020

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 03:  Royce White #30 of the Enemies dribbles the ball in the second half against the Power during week seven of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Allstate Arena on August 03, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/BIG3 via Getty Images)
Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Former NBA player Royce White was among those who organized a peaceful protest in Minneapolis on Friday in response to the killing of an unarmed black man, 46-year-old George Floyd, who died while in police custody last Monday.

Per CNN, video showed a 44-year-old white officer, Derek Chauvin, subdued Floyd by placing his knee on his neck for a prolonged period despite Floyd's pleas that he was in pain and couldn't breathe.

Mike Max of CBS 4 Minnesota reported that White and ex-football player Darrell Thompson led a protest that started at U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings. Robert Klemko of the Washington Post reported that the protest started with around 200 people but grew into thousands.

robertklemko @RobertKlemko

This protest was started via text message by former NBA player Royce White with 200 people. It’s now morphed into thousands of people marching down I35. https://t.co/iQCThMboX3

That group took a knee on Hennepin Bridge. Once there, White gave a speech, per Tyler Davis of the Des Moines Register, before heading onto I-35.

Tyler Davis @TDavisDMR

Former Iowa State basketball star Royce White, who grew up in Minneapolis, with a rousing speech. Ends by saying protesters will be on Hennepin bridge “until CNN covers this protest.” He, other speaker say national media only wants to show looting & fires in #georgefloydprotests https://t.co/EmpsikOBZU

White was a first-team All-Big 12 member at Iowa State in 2012. He was born and raised in Minneapolis.