Meyers Leonard, the man who stands tall and supports the 'Black Lives Matter': "You can be both."

• Interview. Craig Hodges, When Talking Has a Price: "No one from the Bulls explained to me why they didn't renew me after two titles."

The

sounds

in the bubble of the

of Disneyworld.

Some kneel to the ground to continue protesting police brutality on black people and another, one, stands alone, with his hand on his heart and his gaze straight ahead.

They are the

, finalists of the NBA, and

, center of the team.

Leonard's brother enlisted in the Marines after the

bombings,

and some of his best friends are in the military.

Hence, I never put my knee on the court.

Not out of lack of respect for his peers, but out of affection for his family.

He was born in

but grew up in Robinson, Illinois, in a

rural

environment

where he did not experience "any problems" like the ones that are now trending in the media until he reached university.

"People there loved everyone."

But his interest in basketball ended up uniting him with many African-American colleagues and rivals whom he ended up "understanding" to form a sensible argument that is often forgotten in a society that lives so in extremes: "

. I can have affection and I appreciate the military and at the same time feel pain for what is happening in America, especially in the African American community, "he explained in a letter in '

'.

The

is the most progressive league of the major sports competitions in the United States, with the

at the other end of the equation.

Therefore, when Leonard stood during the anthem in the first game of the Finals against the Lakers, it ended up being a

.

Some in favor, others against.

No one trying to understand his position.

"It was a shock. Some of the things hurt me. People calling me

or that I did not care about things. It is unfortunate, because I have done everything I can so that people understand that you can feel both," he argues.

Leonard says that he has had meetings with members of the

and that he listens carefully to all the explanations that his African American teammates give, starting with

, captain of the Heat.

"I have been surrounded by African American culture long enough to feel their pain. Talking to my peers, opening my eyes and learning from their personal experiences and that of their families, educating myself about the ongoing problems they have suffered.

, so I have to shut up and listen, "he acknowledges.

The relationship between Leonard and his teammates is unbeatable.

While he stands, the others join their arms in a sign of union.

And next to him,

, star of the team, surrounds his leg so that he is not out of the gesture.

In this society of extremes, the circumstance occurs that Leonard's gesture has been used by some and by others to attack or support the cause they defend.

And while, he, in the middle, tries not to be used by anyone.

"There are a lot of people who say, 'Fuck it, all lives matter.' And no,

, turn off the TV and search. All lives can't matter until the lives of black people matter. This is not 'fake news', it is not a lie, it is a real problem, a real pain ".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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