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  6. article_body => "<p dir=\"ltr\">At a rally to address social justice issues in Seattle on Thursday, Zach LaVine made both an important plea and a notable admission.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cGo vote,\u201d he said, via a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/percyallen\/status\/1268731681466286080?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">video<\/a> from Percy Allen of The Seattle Times. \u201cI haven\u2019t been able to go and do that yet, but coming this November I am going to, because I know it\u2019s gonna change something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the wake of George Floyd\u2019s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, which has sparked global unrest and protests, many have voiced the need for change, unity and concerted action to combat police brutality and injustice. LaVine added to that chorus (and past <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ZachLaVine\/status\/1266880000872996864?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">comments<\/a>&nbsp;of his own) on a Friday conference call with reporters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">He also confirmed that he\u2019s never voted before, but made it a point to explain the evolution of his involvement in politics in his comments.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt (voting) just wasn\u2019t something that I was hip to,\u201d LaVine said. \u201cObviously, I know that you have the right to vote, but everybody doesn\u2019t have to. With what\u2019s going on, I think it matters a lot more now, at least to me, because I think every single vote counts. Before, I wasn\u2019t educated at all on it. I\u2019m trying to educate myself now more on the politics and what goes on and how things are voted on. So just taking action in my own community and trying to do my part is the reason why I\u2019m moving forward with that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">LaVine went on to encourage others to educate themselves \u2014 as he has and continues to do \u2014 on issues that resonate with them and act on them at the ballot box.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cGo out there and not just vote for presidency but things in your own community, as well,\u201d LaVine said. \u201cBecause everything that you vote for can make a change and put those people who are in power to hear your voice and help make that change, as well. Educating yourself, making sure that we're all together, because what's going on isn't right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Action outside of the electoral process can manifest in different ways for different people. For some, it\u2019s seeking out education on topics once unfamiliar to them. For others, it\u2019s speaking out \u2014 whether it be in their own social niches or on social media. For one person, it might mean donating. For another, it might mean protesting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Whatever one\u2019s personal preference or capacity, LaVine is imploring any and all allies to the cause to get involved, now more fervently than ever.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThis has been going on for a long time. I think the video cameras shed light on a lot of things, what's been going on with the world and police and different things like that,\u201d LaVine said. \u201cI think now that we're starting to get this platform for all athletes and entertainers to use our platform for good, and I just want to continue to go out there and share that, as well. There's going to have to be some type of movement, and maybe it might not be this generation, it might be the next, but you know, it can't continue to be this way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">LaVine\u2019s advice for those looking for ways to take action was all-encompassing, and centered on being unabashedly yourself.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cEducate yourself. Be active. Don\u2019t be afraid to put yourself out there and be different either. Go out there and try to make a change even if you have an opinion and you\u2019re the only one in the room talking,\u201d LaVine said. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid of that, because I think now with what\u2019s going on, everybody has a certain opinion and now that everybody is talking, it\u2019s OK to have that opinion. If something settles down and you\u2019re the only one with an opinion, I think it\u2019s a little bit harder for someone to speak up. So don\u2019t feel scared about that. And go out there and do what\u2019s right for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">He also parsed through the complex nature of the protests, which have in some instances featured looting.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cEverybody has a voice right now and we\u2019re bringing attention to it, to where we have to be heard,\u201d LaVine said. \u201cSome of the negatives, obviously there\u2019s a lot of frustration, not just in the black community but a lot of communities, where looting and things are going on. And you have to understand everybody\u2019s situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cFor me personally, I don\u2019t like looting and stealing, but if that\u2019s a way for people to get their frustration out, that\u2019s how it has to be. But it\u2019s not being portrayed that way. It\u2019s being portrayed as the black community is looting when that\u2019s just the way of frustration and getting things out. And the black community isn\u2019t the only one looting. The TV has their own narrative and they\u2019re going to share their own narrative so we\u2019ve got to be careful about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Bulls, according to LaVine, recently assembled on a Zoom call to talk through their emotions in the wake of the events of the past few weeks, organized by&nbsp;Arturas Karnisovas. LaVine called it a \u201csafe space,\u201d and pledged continued action moving forward.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cNot everybody has somebody to talk to or they feel afraid to talk, so, a safe space to talk and I think moving forward we're obviously going to do something,\u201d LaVine said. \u201cI think the league's going to do something. But I think that's going to come at a time when we can get together and actually sit down and think of something that's powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-uncovered\/id1503357591\">Apple Podcasts<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/2GzSxcvdJF9WAl7dsAneHp\">Spotify<\/a> |<a href=\"http:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL3Nwb3J0cy11bmNvdmVyZWQ&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj2o8GC8MXpAhVBAM0KHc3SCs0Q4aUDegQIARAC&amp;hl=en\"> Google Podcasts<\/a> |<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/sports-uncovered\"> Stitcher<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/art19.com\/shows\/sports-uncovered\/\">Art19<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/sports-uncovered\/episodes\/bc87e622-e473-44ac-8615-49fcf7936b93\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n"
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Bulls

Bulls

At a rally to address social justice issues in Seattle on Thursday, Zach LaVine made both an important plea and a notable admission.

“Go vote,” he said, via a video from Percy Allen of The Seattle Times. “I haven’t been able to go and do that yet, but coming this November I am going to, because I know it’s gonna change something.”

In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, which has sparked global unrest and protests, many have voiced the need for change, unity and concerted action to combat police brutality and injustice. LaVine added to that chorus (and past comments of his own) on a Friday conference call with reporters. 

He also confirmed that he’s never voted before, but made it a point to explain the evolution of his involvement in politics in his comments.

“It (voting) just wasn’t something that I was hip to,” LaVine said. “Obviously, I know that you have the right to vote, but everybody doesn’t have to. With what’s going on, I think it matters a lot more now, at least to me, because I think every single vote counts. Before, I wasn’t educated at all on it. I’m trying to educate myself now more on the politics and what goes on and how things are voted on. So just taking action in my own community and trying to do my part is the reason why I’m moving forward with that.”

LaVine went on to encourage others to educate themselves — as he has and continues to do — on issues that resonate with them and act on them at the ballot box.

“Go out there and not just vote for presidency but things in your own community, as well,” LaVine said. “Because everything that you vote for can make a change and put those people who are in power to hear your voice and help make that change, as well. Educating yourself, making sure that we're all together, because what's going on isn't right.”

Action outside of the electoral process can manifest in different ways for different people. For some, it’s seeking out education on topics once unfamiliar to them. For others, it’s speaking out — whether it be in their own social niches or on social media. For one person, it might mean donating. For another, it might mean protesting. 

Whatever one’s personal preference or capacity, LaVine is imploring any and all allies to the cause to get involved, now more fervently than ever.

“This has been going on for a long time. I think the video cameras shed light on a lot of things, what's been going on with the world and police and different things like that,” LaVine said. “I think now that we're starting to get this platform for all athletes and entertainers to use our platform for good, and I just want to continue to go out there and share that, as well. There's going to have to be some type of movement, and maybe it might not be this generation, it might be the next, but you know, it can't continue to be this way.”

LaVine’s advice for those looking for ways to take action was all-encompassing, and centered on being unabashedly yourself.

“Educate yourself. Be active. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and be different either. Go out there and try to make a change even if you have an opinion and you’re the only one in the room talking,” LaVine said. “Don’t be afraid of that, because I think now with what’s going on, everybody has a certain opinion and now that everybody is talking, it’s OK to have that opinion. If something settles down and you’re the only one with an opinion, I think it’s a little bit harder for someone to speak up. So don’t feel scared about that. And go out there and do what’s right for you.”

He also parsed through the complex nature of the protests, which have in some instances featured looting.

“Everybody has a voice right now and we’re bringing attention to it, to where we have to be heard,” LaVine said. “Some of the negatives, obviously there’s a lot of frustration, not just in the black community but a lot of communities, where looting and things are going on. And you have to understand everybody’s situation. 

“For me personally, I don’t like looting and stealing, but if that’s a way for people to get their frustration out, that’s how it has to be. But it’s not being portrayed that way. It’s being portrayed as the black community is looting when that’s just the way of frustration and getting things out. And the black community isn’t the only one looting. The TV has their own narrative and they’re going to share their own narrative so we’ve got to be careful about that.”

The Bulls, according to LaVine, recently assembled on a Zoom call to talk through their emotions in the wake of the events of the past few weeks, organized by Arturas Karnisovas. LaVine called it a “safe space,” and pledged continued action moving forward.

“Not everybody has somebody to talk to or they feel afraid to talk, so, a safe space to talk and I think moving forward we're obviously going to do something,” LaVine said. “I think the league's going to do something. But I think that's going to come at a time when we can get together and actually sit down and think of something that's powerful.”

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