Protesters oppose COVID-19 vaccination obligations and support basketball player Kyrie Irving before the NBA basketball match between Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, October 24, 2021 in New York. Gather on the street outside the Barclays Center. (AP photo / John Minchiro)
New York (AP) —Net-backed demonstrators defended Kyrie Irving, who gathered outside the Barclays Center on Sunday before Brooklyn’s home opener, to protest the New York vaccine order.
There are dozens of people in the open space outside the arena, with signs that say, “Let Kylie play! Let Kylie play!” And “Stand with Kylie.”
A small group broke through the barrier and went to the front door of the arena about an hour before the tip-off.
Irving is not in Nets because he refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Mandates in New York require vaccination of professional athletes playing on teams in the city to play and practice in public.
Nets could have allowed Irving to play in the road game, but they decided he wouldn’t be with the team until he could be a full participant. Irving explained in an Instagram Live post that he was doing “the best thing for me.”
Protester Curtis Orwell said he and others were fighting for “physical autonomy and sovereignty” and the right to choose what would fit into their bodies.
“We also know much more than we knew about the virus 18 months ago,” he said. “We have tried and proven treatments for great success. Unfortunately, such voices are completely suppressed and censored.”
Orwell said he knew someone who was unvaccinated and was unemployed because he was not vaccinated.
“I don’t feel it’s right for them, and it’s okay,” he said. “We need to respect it.”
When the match against the Charlotte Hornets began, there were plenty of vacant seats in the arena, but it was unclear if the cause was the turmoil at the Plaza. A basketball hoop was set up in the square, so fans who arrived early could film and listen to the musical performance.
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Demonstrators support Irving v Vaccine obligations in Netz games | WGN Radio 720
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