Photo: John Minchillo/AP/ShutterstockChaos erupted outside of Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday as hundreds of protesters gathered in support of Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, who has refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19.Protesterscongregated outside the Nets' arenashortly before the teams' home opener against the Charlotte Hornets tipped off at 4 p.m. local time, according toNewsdayandESPN. Some held signs that read “Stand with Kyrie,” while chanting “No vaccine mandate, stand with Kyrie,” ESPN reports.At one point, Newsday reported, a group of protestersbreached barricadesand reached the arena’s front entrance. Video of the scene shows individuals waving flags and yelling “Let Kyrie play.“Per the outlet, the building brieflywent into lockdown, with some fans temporarily unable to get inside. Footage from inside Barclays Center shared on Twitter appears to showprotesters attempting to get through the arena’s doors.On Oct. 12,the Nets announcedIrving would not be allowed to join the team for practice or games until he is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. New York City, where the Nets are based, currently requires anyone over the age of 12 entering a “covered premises” in the city to prove they have received the coronavirus vaccine.John Minchillo/AP/ShutterstockThe next day,Irving responded on Instagram Live, where he spoke about his “freedom” surrounding the COVID vaccine. The point guard suggested he had been “promised that you have exemptions or that you didn’t have to be forced to get the vaccine” ahead of the 2021-22 season.“This wasn’t something that I foresaw coming where I prepared for it and had a chance to strategize on what was going to be best for me and my family,” he said in the video. “I chose to be unvaccinated. And that was my choice. And I would ask y’all just to respect that choice.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via GettyHe added: “I’m staying grounded in what I believe in. It’s not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It’s about being true to what feels good for me. I’m still uncertain about a lot of things. And that’s OK. If I’m going to be demonized about having more questions and taking my time to make a decision with my life, then that’s just what it is.“Last Tuesday, NBA commissionerAdam Silver urged Irvingto get vaccinated against COVID-19 during an appearance onInside the NBAon TNT.“I’d tell him to get vaccinated, first and foremost, for himself and his family,” said Silver, 59. “Next, for his teammates and his community, and also for the league that I know he cares so much about.“As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Photo: John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock
Chaos erupted outside of Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday as hundreds of protesters gathered in support of Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, who has refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19.Protesterscongregated outside the Nets' arenashortly before the teams' home opener against the Charlotte Hornets tipped off at 4 p.m. local time, according toNewsdayandESPN. Some held signs that read “Stand with Kyrie,” while chanting “No vaccine mandate, stand with Kyrie,” ESPN reports.At one point, Newsday reported, a group of protestersbreached barricadesand reached the arena’s front entrance. Video of the scene shows individuals waving flags and yelling “Let Kyrie play.“Per the outlet, the building brieflywent into lockdown, with some fans temporarily unable to get inside. Footage from inside Barclays Center shared on Twitter appears to showprotesters attempting to get through the arena’s doors.On Oct. 12,the Nets announcedIrving would not be allowed to join the team for practice or games until he is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. New York City, where the Nets are based, currently requires anyone over the age of 12 entering a “covered premises” in the city to prove they have received the coronavirus vaccine.John Minchillo/AP/ShutterstockThe next day,Irving responded on Instagram Live, where he spoke about his “freedom” surrounding the COVID vaccine. The point guard suggested he had been “promised that you have exemptions or that you didn’t have to be forced to get the vaccine” ahead of the 2021-22 season.“This wasn’t something that I foresaw coming where I prepared for it and had a chance to strategize on what was going to be best for me and my family,” he said in the video. “I chose to be unvaccinated. And that was my choice. And I would ask y’all just to respect that choice.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via GettyHe added: “I’m staying grounded in what I believe in. It’s not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It’s about being true to what feels good for me. I’m still uncertain about a lot of things. And that’s OK. If I’m going to be demonized about having more questions and taking my time to make a decision with my life, then that’s just what it is.“Last Tuesday, NBA commissionerAdam Silver urged Irvingto get vaccinated against COVID-19 during an appearance onInside the NBAon TNT.“I’d tell him to get vaccinated, first and foremost, for himself and his family,” said Silver, 59. “Next, for his teammates and his community, and also for the league that I know he cares so much about.“As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Chaos erupted outside of Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday as hundreds of protesters gathered in support of Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, who has refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Protesterscongregated outside the Nets' arenashortly before the teams' home opener against the Charlotte Hornets tipped off at 4 p.m. local time, according toNewsdayandESPN. Some held signs that read “Stand with Kyrie,” while chanting “No vaccine mandate, stand with Kyrie,” ESPN reports.
At one point, Newsday reported, a group of protestersbreached barricadesand reached the arena’s front entrance. Video of the scene shows individuals waving flags and yelling “Let Kyrie play.”
Per the outlet, the building brieflywent into lockdown, with some fans temporarily unable to get inside. Footage from inside Barclays Center shared on Twitter appears to showprotesters attempting to get through the arena’s doors.
On Oct. 12,the Nets announcedIrving would not be allowed to join the team for practice or games until he is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. New York City, where the Nets are based, currently requires anyone over the age of 12 entering a “covered premises” in the city to prove they have received the coronavirus vaccine.
John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock
The next day,Irving responded on Instagram Live, where he spoke about his “freedom” surrounding the COVID vaccine. The point guard suggested he had been “promised that you have exemptions or that you didn’t have to be forced to get the vaccine” ahead of the 2021-22 season.
“This wasn’t something that I foresaw coming where I prepared for it and had a chance to strategize on what was going to be best for me and my family,” he said in the video. “I chose to be unvaccinated. And that was my choice. And I would ask y’all just to respect that choice.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty
He added: “I’m staying grounded in what I believe in. It’s not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It’s about being true to what feels good for me. I’m still uncertain about a lot of things. And that’s OK. If I’m going to be demonized about having more questions and taking my time to make a decision with my life, then that’s just what it is.”
Last Tuesday, NBA commissionerAdam Silver urged Irvingto get vaccinated against COVID-19 during an appearance onInside the NBAon TNT.
“I’d tell him to get vaccinated, first and foremost, for himself and his family,” said Silver, 59. “Next, for his teammates and his community, and also for the league that I know he cares so much about.”
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
