Warriors Active in Toscano-Anderson’s Protest

When Juan Toscano-Anderson signed with the Warriors in early February, it was a big deal for him personally, and not just because it marked his NBA debut. Toscano-Anderson is an Oakland native and grew up a Warriors fan, and now he had a chance to play for his hometown team. He would gain a new level of recognition throughout the Bay Area while fulfilling lifelong dreams.

But back when he put his signature on that contract, he probably didn’t expect that he would use his newfound fame to organize a protest in his city just four months later.

On Wednesday, June 3, Toscano-Anderson organized and led Walking in Unity, an event against racism and police brutality inspired by recent tragedies such as the death of George Floyd.

The protest consisted mainly of a walk around the Lake Merritt area but began by Toscano-Anderson addressing attendees.

"No matter the color of your skin, how much money you got, your education, it don't matter. We're all human beings," he said. "We're all here for the same purpose.”

As Toscano-Anderson and about 1,000 others walked, chants of “Say his name” and “Say her name” rang out, referring to Floyd and Breonna Taylor respectively. Raised fists were a common sight, and at one point the protestors all got down on one knee. However, what made this so notable wasn’t what just was being done, but who was doing it.

Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Klay Thompson, Damion Lee and Kevon Looney all showed up. They walked, chanted, put their fists in the air and kneeled like everybody else. For a few hours, they weren’t famous. They wouldn’t be signing autographs or taking pictures with fans. They weren’t showing up for attention or to show themselves off. They just wanted to fight against injustice alongside everyone else.

The presence of Toscano-Anderson’s Warrior teammates highlights two things about the franchise. First, it shows how they allow and perhaps even encourage those within the organization to speak out on social issues. While some sports teams may have missed the mark in their statements and messages over the last few days, the Warriors made a lot of the right moves. Yes, they have spoken out as an organization, but they have also made sure to amplify the voices of individuals within the organization. The team’s Twitter page is filled with retweets of current and former players speaking out on racial issues. They even posted a few videos from Toscano-Anderson’s rally. When the Warriors take action in this way, it sends a message to the players that they have the backing of the entire franchise, which is something that not every team can claim.

The second point is less important, but still meaningful. Toscano-Anderson has played a grand total of 13 regular-season games for the Warriors. He has played in zero regular-season games with Thompson and has shared the court with Curry just once. And yet both of them, as well as two other Warriors, showed up to support him and the cause. Most great teams, at their best, have players who trust one another and stick up for each other, regardless of how long they have been with the team. The Warriors are another example of that.



“I’ve got people in the locker room who are not only going to stand up for what I stand up for, but who are actually going to stand up with me,” Toscano-Anderson said. “It’s a different feeling. I’d run through a wall for those guys now. That’s created a different bond on my end. I don’t say that lightly.”

The Warriors have established themselves as one of the leading sports franchises when it comes to speaking up on social issues. They are willing to use both words and actions to support what they believe is in the best interest of the Bay Area, the league and the country. So when a player from Oakland stands up to inequality, it’s no surprise that the franchise was right there with him.

FeatureAlex HuttonWalking in Unity, juan toscano-anderson, stephen curry, steph curry, klay thompson, black lives matter, blm, george floyd, damion lee, kevon looney, ayesha curryComment