The Boston Celtics center, which has been vocal about its treatment of minorities in China, wore customized shoes with the words “Modern Day Slavery” and “No More Excuses” in its team’s win against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
On Monday, he posted a video on Twitter in which he called him out for Naik’s silence on the injustice in China.
“You don’t address police brutality in China, you don’t speak about discrimination against the LGBTQ community, you don’t say a word about the persecution of minorities in China, you’re afraid to speak up.”
Kantor’s criticism was particularly centered around the injustice felt by the Uighur community – the US State Department estimates that up to two million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities have been detained in detention camps in Xinjiang since 2017.
China has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights abuses, saying the centers are necessary to prevent religious extremism and terrorism.
“Who makes your shoes in China? Do you even know?” The footwear industry was “tainted” by forced labor, Cantor said.
“There are a lot of forced labor factories in China. For example, Uighur forced labour, this is modern-day slavery, and it is happening in China right now.
“Millions of Uighurs are currently detained, sold and assigned to work in forced labor camps, prisons and factories across the country. They work long hours and continue to be under constant surveillance with poor living conditions. are in.
“Don’t forget, every time you put those shoes on your feet, or you put that T-shirt on your back, there’s so much tears and so much oppression and so much blood behind it.”
‘We are concerned about the forced labor report’
“Nike is committed to ethical and responsible manufacturing and we uphold international labor standards,” the statement said.
“We are concerned about reports of forced labor in and around the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
“Nike does not source products from XUAR and we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they are not using cloth or spun yarn from the region.”
Nike was not immediately available for comment about Kanator’s latest video when asked by CNN.
Cantor ends the video by inviting Nike co-founder Phil Knight and high-profile ambassadors LeBron James and Michael Jordan to visit China so they can “watch” [it] With your own eyes” where shoes are made.
“Nike likes to say ‘Just do it’ — well, what are you doing about slave labor that makes your shoes? That slave labor that makes you rich,” he said.
“Nike must partner in this. Stop the hypocrisy, stop modern-day slavery now.”
Last week, Kantor criticized China’s dealings with Tibet, leading Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin to say at a news briefing that the NBA player was “trying to gain attention” and that his remarks were “refutable. Wasn’t.”
The broadcast of the Celtics’ season-opening game against the New York Knicks was pulled down by Chinese video-streaming site Tencent, while fans condemned Cantor and the Celtics on Chinese social media.
Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, sparked a dispute between the NBA and China two years later with a tweet – later deleted – in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. More stepped down a year later.
Cantor, who grew up in Turkey, has previously been vocal in defense of various political causes, including criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
As a result he faced death threats and a criminal trial back at his father’s home.
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