Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter is known for his strident activism. The Turkish native can’t return to his home country due to his criticism of the country’s autocratic regime.
But he isn’t just concerned with global human rights abuses in Turkey. The 6’10” star set his sights on perhaps the world’s most brutal regime, Communist China, and their financial partner Nike.
Dear @Nike
Stop the modern day SLAVERY, now!!!#HypocriteNike#EndUyghurForcedLabor pic.twitter.com/tvX2k3wE4X
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 25, 2021
Kanter is using his platform to call out China for its myriad abuses and Nike for its hypocrisy and silence.
Heartless Dictator of China,
XI JINPING and the Communist Party of China.I am calling you out in front of the whole world.
Close down the SLAVE labor camps and free the UYGHUR people!Stop the GENOCIDE, now!#FreeUyghurs pic.twitter.com/eEoiw5Uz2K
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 22, 2021
China tried to punish the NBA for Kanter speaking his mind, the Turkish star turned up the heat.
After China starts pulling NBA broadcasts in apparent punishment for Enes Kanter speaking out about Tibet, he doubles down and starts speaking out about the Uyghurs. Whatever you want to call the companies that keep caving to China, this is the opposite. https://t.co/zsaUMli0Ja
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) October 22, 2021
Upcoming Celtics games are unavailable for live stream on the China-based Tencent Sports app.
Enes Kanter’s Anti-Chinese Communist Party Sneakers
Kanter is taking his protests to the court with unique sets of basketball shoes that protest the brutal Chinese Communist Party. Something tells me those wouldn’t fly on Nikes.
Protesting censorship.
XI JINPING and the Chinese Communist Party
Someone has to teach you a lesson,
I will NEVER apologize for speaking the truth.
You can NOT buy me.
You can NOT scare me.
You can NOT silence me.Bring it on!! #FreedomShoes#XinnieThePooh pic.twitter.com/JFGEgIaXlN
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 24, 2021
China’s occupation of Tibet and suppression of Tibetian culture.
More than 150 Tibetan people have burned themselves alive!! — hoping that such an act would raise more awareness about Tibet.
I stand with my Tibetan brothers and sisters, and I support their calls for Freedom.#FreeTibet #FreedomShoes pic.twitter.com/MKxfs1l7GA
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 20, 2021
China’s alleged use of sweatshops and slave labor.
To the owner of @Nike, Phil Knight
How about I book plane tickets for us
and let’s fly to China together.We can try to visit these SLAVE labor
camps and you can see it with your
own eyes.@KingJames @Jumpman23
you guys are welcome to come too.#EndUyghurForcedLabor pic.twitter.com/241bg887JO— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 26, 2021
And China’s placement of much of their Islamic Uyghur population in “re-education camps.”
To those of you who care about human dignity:
Please join me in spreading the word.
What is happening to the Uyghurs is one of the WORST human rights abuses in the world today.We can NOT stay silent!#FreedomShoes#FreeUyghurs pic.twitter.com/8Bjr4FiWR9
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 22, 2021
Why Is Nike Silent?
Nike usually supports its sponsored players and wades into politics. The shoe-branded helped pester the league into plastering “BLACK LIVES MATTER” on every court during the Summer of 2020. And of course, let’s not forget the millions they’ve paid failed back-up Colin Kaepernick. Nike made a gigantic effort to become Social Justice Warriors, but only if you live in America. If you’re oppressed in China? Sorry, Nike doesn’t care.
A lot of big American sports leagues and corporations, will criticize America and threaten boycotts but will remain silent when it comes to the abuses of their foreign partners.
Nike has not responded to Kanter’s protests. And the reason, in my opinion, is obvious.
Money.
Nike has invested millions into China and has used factories with Uyghur forced labor. But we don’t hear Kaep or Nike crying about this and kneeling. In my opinion, Kaep and Nike don’t care about human rights, they know what sells in America. They’re profiting off outrage and guilt while real harm goes on in their name across the world.
While Lebron James will gladly lick the sneaker of the brutal communist regime, it is refreshing to see a star standing strong while so many remain silent.
What are your thoughts? Do you support Enes Kanter? Let us know in the comments below
Editors note: the story was updated to include an additional tweet from Kanter.
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