The controversy surrounding Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving’s decision to remain unvaccinated continues.
On Sunday, protesters attempted to storm the Barclays Center entrance over the team’s decision to ban Irving from playing because he won’t get vaccinated against COVID-19. None of the protestors were able to enter the area.
“Barclays Center briefly closed its doors today in order to clear protesters from the main doors on the plaza and ensure guests could safely enter the arena,” the spokesperson said in a statement via AP. “Only ticketed guests were able to enter the building and the game proceeded according to schedule.”
The 2021-22 NBA season kicked off on Oct. 19. Training camps opened Sept. 28.
Unvaccinated members of the Nets and New York Knicks cannot play in home games. The Nets also announced Irving would not “play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant.”
Several groups organized the protests, including Teachers for Choice, Rev. Kevin McCall, and Black Lives Matter activist Hank Newsome.
“He’s doing what he needs to do for himself and his family, so I’m with him 100%,” Curtis Hll, told CBS News.
Thus far, Irving shows no signs of relenting.
“I am staying grounded in what I believe in. It is not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It is just really about being true to what feels good for me,” he told his supporters. “This has everything to do with what is going on in our world, and I am being grouped into something that is bigger than just the game of basketball.”
