Protest for Kyrie Irving turns ugly as supporters storm Nets’ Barclays Center entrance on over vaccine mandate

Kyrie Irving has not but performed for the Brooklyn Nets this season due to a vaccine mandate in New York Metropolis that stops unvaccinated gamers from collaborating in dwelling video games in New York. Irving technically might have performed in Brooklyn’s first two video games of the season, however the Nets selected to not play Irving in any respect relatively than enable him to take part solely in street video games. On Sunday, although, the Nets returned dwelling to Brooklyn to play their first dwelling recreation of the season, and that has led to vital protesting outdoors of their dwelling enviornment, the Barclays Heart. 

Various protesters in opposition to the vaccine mandate gathered on the enviornment in downtown Brooklyn on Sunday. They chanted “let Kyrie play” whereas holding up indicators that learn “Stand with Kyrie” forward of Brooklyn’s Sunday matinee matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. 

The protests bought scary as they progressed. At one level, protesters broke by the barricades arrange by safety, who needed to rush to guard the doorways. One protester even picked up and threw a barricade at a safety officer:

At one level, safety needed to even lock down the constructing and stop followers from coming into the constructing.

Safety personnel ultimately bought the protests below management and resumed permitting followers with tickets to enter the constructing. Nonetheless, at tip off, there have been nonetheless a lot of empty seats due partially to delays brought on by the protest.

“I selected to be unvaccinated, and that was my alternative,” Irving explained recently on Instagram Live. “And I might ask y’all simply to respect that alternative, and I’m gonna simply proceed to remain in form, be able to play, be able to rock out with my teammates, and simply be a part of this entire factor.”

There was no indication but that New York Metropolis plans to elevate its mandate. Irving has not steered that he’s planning to get the vaccine, nor have the Nets backed off their determination to not play Irving till he can take part in all of their video games, not simply those on the street. Till a type of issues adjustments, Irving will stay out of Brooklyn’s lineup.