Devastated by the announcement that two Cleveland police officers will not face charges for killing 12-year-old Tamir Rice, social justice activists are desperate for a way keep their fight alive.
Last year, James — who donned a hoodie in honor of Trayvon Martin with Heat teammates in 2012 — said Rice’s death showed “how much further we still have to go,” according to Cleveland.com.
Using the hashtag #NoJusticeNoLebron, activists, led by writer Tariq Touré, have unleashed a Twitter campaign asking the NBA superstar to put his season on hold until the Department of Justice — which is investigating the fatal November 2014 shooting — “imprisons the murderers of Tamir Rice.”
It's more than a game and you know it. @KingJames #NoJusticeNoLebron for #TamirRice pic.twitter.com/usob6WvQJu
— TariqTouré طارق تورى (@TariqToure) December 29, 2015
Some supporters of the campaign cited the successful ouster of former University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe — aided by striking university football players — as an example of the inherent power of athletes to influence change. Others posted videos of iconic boxer Muhammad Ali and his refusal to be drafted into the Army.
“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” Ali famously asked.
“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” he added.
James has not responded to the request in public or on Twitter, leading some activists to suggest times have changed.
“We wouldn’t have to tweet Muhammad Ali,” Kwame Rose tweeted.
It's embarrassing that many BLACK athletes in the past risked so much2 stand for us,YET @KingJames can't be bothered SMDH #NoJusticeNoLebron
— 👑 𝓞𝓻𝓲𝓽 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼™ (@Empress_Orit) December 29, 2015
#NoJusticeNoLebron c'mon @KingJames you have a platform on which to start change #NeverForget #TamirRice
— ༼ つ ◕◡◕ ༽つ v̶i̶v̶i̶a̶n̶ martinez ♪՞☟︎ (@vivianizcool) December 29, 2015
@KingJames made a statement about #EricGarner with #ICantBreathe
— Bucky with the Good Arm (@benjancewicz) December 29, 2015
Will he walk off the court for #TamirRice? #NoJusticeNoLebron
#NoJusticeNoLebron
— Bae Guevara (@Thug_Scholar) December 29, 2015
Please, please do not play tonight.
Tamir and the rest of us need you not to.
Historically Black athletes have protested & supported movements. #NoJusticeNoLebron #TamirRice pic.twitter.com/7eRPwPl2jk
— Asha Abdi (@Asha_Abdi) December 29, 2015
The effort has split Rice supporters on social media, though, with some questioning whether the request is a fair burden to place on an individual.
Difficult position to put @KingJames in w/ #NoJusticeNoLebron .. We should unite & all black athletes in Cleveland should stand together.
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) December 29, 2015
I understand people want LBJ to stand up, but I don't agree w/#NoJusticeNoLebron. He's done A TON for Cleveland, ALWAYS speaks out, & leads
— Dr. Wes Bellamy (@DrWesBellamy) December 29, 2015
To everyone on the #NoJusticeNoLebron hashtag. You do realize he has a contractual obligation to play? Spectators should boycott the games.
— Tọ́pẹ́ (@topeoyerinde) December 29, 2015
I understand the sentiment, but #NoJusticeNoLebron isn't analogous to the Mizzou football boycott and wouldn't have the same outcome.
— Aaron Ferguson (@aferguson314) December 29, 2015
After being convicted of draft evasion, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title, sentenced to five years in prison and banned from the sport for three years. Although Ali avoided jail time, he was fined $10,000.
While riding the bench might be an powerful symbolic gesture unprecedented for an athlete of his stature, James isn’t facing jail time and a hypothetical departure from the sport — while causing contractual disputes — would have no bearing on the DOJ.
Pointing to the University of Missouri as an example presents problems as well. Football players, along with other students activists, were able to force the Wolfe’s ouster because it hinged upon one man’s decision instead of plodding investigation or a legal decision.
Just got polling results back from #NoJusticeNoLebron pic.twitter.com/H9Irim1O1R
— TariqTouré طارق تورى (@TariqToure) December 29, 2015
People are more mad about #NoJusticeNoLebron than they are that a 12 yo was murdered.
— Kwame Rose (@kwamerose) December 29, 2015