(SportsRadio 610) -- Rockets' star Russell Westbrook helped lead a Black Lives Matter protest in Compton, California over the weekend, calling on those in the crowd to protect themselves.
Westbrook was joined by the crowd in raising a fist and a moment of silence for victims of police brutality and racism.
"Protect your team. Protect your family," said Westbrook, a Long Beach native. "At times like this, we need to stick together."
Westbrook was joined by Compton natives DeMar Derozan of the San Antonio Spurs and hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar.
On Sunday night, Westbrook tweeted a photo of himself at the protest, captioned "-It’s impossible for you to understand what happen today if you don’t understand the past- LETS CONTINUE TO FIGHT. #blacklivesmatter"
-It’s impossible for you to understand what happen today if you don’t understand the past-LETS CONTINUE TO FIGHT. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/No1lxiowCI
— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44)
June 8, 2020 Rockets team owner Tilman Fertitta also participated in a similar demonstration in downtown Houston last week, honoring the life of Houston-native George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police last month.
The Rockets are expected to return to action July 31, when the NBA season resumes inside Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.
