Basketball superstar LeBron James published an endorsement of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an unprecedented editorial in Business Insider Sunday night.
James said Clinton is the only candidate who reflects his desire to make sure kids in poor urban communities like his hometown of Akron, Ohio don’t get left behind.
“When I look at this year’s presidential race, it’s clear which candidate believes the same thing,” James wrote. “Only one person running truly understands the struggles of an Akron child born into poverty. And when I think about the kinds of policies and ideas the kids in my foundation need from our government, the choice is clear. That candidate is Hillary Clinton.”
It’s rare for a popular athlete on James’ level of stardom get involved in politics. Athletes like Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning often shied away from talking about their personal politics in the public sphere for fear of alienating fans.
But James has not backed down from making political statements during his basketball career. The Cleveland Cavalier forward posted pictures wearing a hooded sweatshirt with his then-Miami Heat teammates following the death of Trayvon Martin, wore a shirt that said “I can’t breathe” after the death of Eric Garner at the hands of New York police and made an impassioned speech at the ESPY awards this year asking for understanding between police and African American men.
However, even for James, the decision to endorse a presidential candidate is unusual. He is perhaps the most popular figure in Ohio and his endorsement is sure to carry some weight in that swing state.
James said his decision was driven by his work with his foundation in Ohio. He said when he returned to Cleveland from Miami two seasons ago, he wanted to win an NBA championship and help kids in his hometown.
Having Clinton in office will help him do that, he said.
“Like my foundation, Hillary has always been a champion for children and their futures,” he said. “For over 40 years, she’s been working to improve public schools, expand access to health care, support children’s hospitals, and so much more.”
James also added that Clinton is the best candidate to help bring hope to black, urban communities where violence — at the hands of neighbors and police — is causing problems.
“I believe rebuilding our communities by focusing on at-risk children is a significant part of the solution. However, I am not a politician, I don’t know everything it will take finally to end the violence,” James said.
“But I do know we need a president who brings us together and keeps us unified. Policies and ideas that divide us more are not the solution. We must all stand together — no matter where we are from or the color of our skin. And Hillary is running on the message of hope and unity that we need.”
