charles-barkley-speaks-out-on-breonna-taylor-shooting,-twitter-has-words

Charles Barkley Speaks Out on Breonna Taylor Shooting, Twitter Has Words

Charles Barkley responded to calls to “abolish the police” following the ruling in the Breonna Taylor case by saying the idea was “crap,” Yahoo Sports reported. The NBA legend, while speaking on the “NBA On TNT” Thursday night, said the idea was disingenuous and would harm black people.

He received immediate push back on Twitter for the comments.

Many people took issue with Charles Barkley because he said Taylor’s case shouldn’t be held in the same regard as George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery. Barkley said it’s different because her boyfriend shot at police during the raid. Kenneth Taylor said he believed someone was breaking into his home. The Kentucky attorney general said police identified themselves.

Barkley had his defenders

Barkley wasn’t alone in his assessment of the case. For one, his co-host Shaquille O’Neal backed up Barkley Thursday night on the show.

“I have to agree with Charles, this one is sort of lumped in. You have to get a warrant signed and some states do allow no-knock warrants. And everyone was asking for murder charges. When you talk about murder, you have to show intent. A homicide occurred and we’re sorry a homicide occurred. When you have a warrant signed by the judge, you are doing your job, and I would imagine that you would fire back.”

Shaquille O’Neal

But on Twitter, there was plenty of support as well.

As the case has become a rallying point for outrage over racial injustices, many celebrities have expressed anger in the case, including LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick. There were protests across the country following the ruling Wednesday. Two officers were shot in Louisville riots, but both are likely to make full recoveries. Police arrested a man and charged him in the shootings, the New York Times said.