Kobe Bryant talks about Ferguson

The events taking place in Ferguson have sparked outrage across the country. Black lives matter, and people are taking to the streets to protest the deadly bias in treatment of blacks by law enforcement.

Kobe Bryant usually isn’t very vocal on societal issues. But as of late he’s added his voice to the conversation.

“You can sit here and argue about it until we’re blue in the face and protest about it,” Bryant said following practice on Tuesday at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo. “Until we have a serious legal system conversation, it’s going to keep on happening.”

“What’s justifiable? What calls for legal action and what qualifies as the threshold in being able to use deadly force in that situation?,” Bryant asked rhetorically. “Those are higher conversations that need to be had.”

“That conversation was about the seed of it all for our young black youth and the seed of where things start with education,” Bryant said. “That is community support and having proper mentors in your life and providing that guidance early on in a person’s life. That’s a big thing that’s missing in our communities.” […] “I don’t know if it helps or not,” Bryant said. “But I have an opinion and I’m not bashful to use it. I don’t know if it helps or not. We all have opinions. If I feel a certain way about something, I’m more than willing to say it.”

The New York Times outlined the Grand Jury’s process compared to the typical process in Missouri. Some change usually happens with high profile cases. But the contrasts are interesting.

This conversation involves many aspects. A police force whose face wasn’t in step with the community is an obvious recipe for disaster.If you don’t understand, or have relationships with the community you’re policing, there’s a disconnect.

#Ferguson