WNBA star Brittney Griner was wrongfully detained in Russia for close to a year after officials discovered a small amount of prescribed cannabis oil in her bag. Now, Griner is cautioning Americans that the kind of ordeal she endured overseas could also happen here in the United States.
Earlier this month, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis amid a sharp rise in ICE and Border Patrol activity, which followed a directive from United States President Donald Trump.
While promoting an upcoming documentary that details her time imprisoned in Russia, Griner has been outspoken about the current state of the country, warning Americans about the direction she believes things are heading.
“I hope this film can shed some light into what it could be like if we keep letting this happen,” Griner told The Hollywood Reporter. “Right now, we’re in a very bad place, especially with everything that’s going on in Minnesota and just across our country … I definitely think people will understand a little bit more now and be able to see some comparisons.”
Griner is fully aware that speaking out will draw criticism, but she has no intention of staying silent.
“I am human, and sometimes it gets me worked up, it makes me want to say something,” she said. “But at the same time, a lot of these people are just looking to get noticed in their mediocre lives, and they need a response from me or whoever they’re attacking to feel important, because they want to get their two seconds of fame. I try to do a good job ignoring it.”
Even with her stark warning, the WNBA standout remains hopeful that meaningful change is possible if people unite.
“I hope people get the sense of, ‘when we come together we can stop what’s going on,’” Griner said. “We can change what’s going on right now in our country.”
Needless to say, this warning from Griner sparked a lot of reactions on social media.
“Who cares what she thinks or says?” one person wrote in the comments of the story on Yahoo.
“I assume she is talking about the violence. Well she needs to take a good look at herself, she is the cause of a lot of the problems with the WNBA,” someone else wrote.
“You broke the law. What did you expect to happen in Russia when you broke their law?” another person added.
“She should be be grateful to be in the U.S. after the whole Russian prison situation,” someone else wrote.
“We come together to vote. Stop watching the news which has been proven biased on both sides and do your own research. Bottom line use your mind not your emotion,” another person added.
Griner isn’t alone in pushing back against ICE and Trump. A number of high-profile athletes and coaches have also made their voices heard.
Over the weekend, WNBA star Breanna Stewart held a sign that read “Abolish ICE” during player introductions before an Unrivaled game. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared blunt remarks on Renee Nicole Good’s death earlier this month and later followed up with pointed criticism about the most recent shooting and the media’s role on Sunday. Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers described Good’s death as “straight-up murder,” while Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama also refused to stay quiet as he addressed the recent events.