Obama Praises LeBron James For Wearing 'I Can't Breathe' Protest Shirt

President Barack Obama applauded basketball star LeBron James for wearing an "I Can't Breathe" protest T-shirt before a game last week.

"You know, I think LeBron did the right thing," Obama told People magazine in an interview published Friday. "We forget the role that Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe and Bill Russell played in raising consciousness."

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But the President told People that he'd like to see more athletes speak out on social and other issues the way James did.

"We went through a long stretch there where [with] well-paid athletes the notion was: just be quiet and get your endorsements and don't make waves," he said. "LeBron is an example of a young man who has, in his own way and in a respectful way, tried to say, 'I'm part of this society, too' and focus attention."


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