Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets points during the 2nd fractional against the Atlanta Hawks astatine Barclays Center connected January 01, 2021 successful the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Protesters gathered extracurricular the Barclays Center successful Brooklyn, New York, connected Sunday successful enactment of Brooklyn Nets defender Kyrie Irving’s decision to stay unvaccinated against Covid-19 contempt section regulations that prohibit unvaccinated players from participating successful location games.
The Nets said earlier this period that the seven-time All-Star would not beryllium allowed to statesman play this play due to the fact that of his vaccination status.
A tiny radical of radical attempted to interruption done barriers to get to the beforehand of the arena’s entrance, the New York Police Department’s property bureau told CNN, adding nary arrests were made.
“Barclays Center concisely closed its doors contiguous successful bid to wide protestors from the main doors connected the plaza and guarantee guests could safely participate the arena. Only ticketed guests were capable to participate the gathering and the crippled proceeded according to schedule,” Mandy Gutmann, a Barclays Center spokesperson, told CNN successful a statement.
“It’s each astir prime — that’s what’s going connected close now,” Savannah Smith, a erstwhile teacher who chose not to instrumentality to enactment due to the fact that of New York City’s vaccine mandate, told CNN.
Smith, who was protesting extracurricular Barclays Center successful enactment of Irving, says she’s upset the hoops subordinate is not allowed to play this play but gladsome he’s lasting up against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
In video from CNN affiliate WABC, protesters held signs that read: “Stand with Kyrie.” One man’s motion said, “I did not instrumentality the jab, truthful they took my job.”
Jesse Jean-Philippe, who had attended the game, expressed appreciation for the vaccine requirement.
“I deliberation the mandate is justified, due to the fact that I don’t deliberation anybody should person the close to infect different people,” Jean-Philippe said.
Nets wide manager Sean Marks said earlier this period Irving would not play oregon signifier with the squad until helium met eligibility requirements.
“Kyrie has made a idiosyncratic choice, and we respect his idiosyncratic close to choose. Currently the prime restricts his quality to beryllium a full-time subordinate of the team, and we volition not licence immoderate subordinate of our squad to enactment with part-time availability,” Marks said.
The Nets mislaid their location crippled against the Charlotte Hornets, 111-95.
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