Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held a discussion on June 5 with members of the Black Press about the social injustice in America in wake of George Floyd’s murder by the hands of former police officers.

Abdul-Jabbar explained the emotional reaction he had when watching the video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck.

What gave Abdul-Jabbar hope and optimism is seeing the diversity in the crowds of American protesters and seeing the outrage of Floyd’s death in masses of people not native to the United States.

Since the death of Floyd, countless pro athletes have been speaking out against police brutality, something former quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, was calling attention to during his national anthem protests back in 2016.

The need to be an activist started in Abdul-Jabbar when he was eight years old, when the murder of Emmett Till made national news.