Photo Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Moe Harkless Shares Story Of Being Pulled Over In Portland For ‘Driving A Car While Being Black’

In the wake of the NBA Playoff protests, many players have released personal messages and statements, explaining why these boycotts are so important and why they mean so much.

Among them is New York Knicks player Moe Harkless. Harkless may not have been part of the re-start in the Orlando Bubble, but he is an NBA player who’s been just as vocal about the racial injustices as many players from within the bubble.

The eight-year veteran now shared a story from the time he was still playing in Portland. Harkless revealed he was once pulled over with his little brother and nephew in the car, without having done anything wrong.

Transcription per reddit user KagsTheOneAndOnly:

During my time playing in Portland, one day I get in my car with my little brother and nephew (14 and 13 at the time) excited for them to walk in with me for the first time during a playoff game. We get in the car and make our way towards the highway.. before we even make it on, literally right when I’m about to make the turn… sirens.

I’m calm because I know I didn’t do anything wrong.

So tell the boys just stay calm I got it, pull over, grab my license and registration early turn my radio down and roll down all my windows because in my head him seeing the two young boys with me may make him give me the benefit of the doubt (when you look like us you try anything to make sure you’re safe)

“Is this your car?”

“…huh?”

“Whose car is this!?”

“Mine, office… why did you pull me over?”

“License and registration and insurance now”

“Why’d you pull me over though?”

“Now”

“Here”

He walks away…

Less than two minutes later he comes back… attitude completely shifted.

“Oh hey Moe I’m sorry to bother you, there’s been some suspicious activity in the neighborhood, and I saw you coming down that hill a little fast, good luck tonight go get em”

… see why we can’t “just play”?

Because even when we do, we’re still looked at as less when we step off that court, we’re still targeted by officers when we step foot off that court. Luckily I’m a fortunate man who has to deal with less of this in his life, but I feel for my brothers and sisters who aren’t as lucky to show an ID and have an officer’s whole viewpoint of you change in an instant. So when players boycott that’s who they’re doing it for, and if you’re not on this side frankly we don’t want to hear you. It’s not an issue of race or skin colour, it’s right and wrong, selfishness and empathy.

Enough is enough

Figured the times were appropriate for a quick story pic.twitter.com/WhMVdoQnBU

— Maurice Harkless (@moe_harkless) August 26, 2020