In a week full of horrors, Thursday night brought its own sickening series of events, this time centered at a Black Lives Matter rally in Dallas, Texas. Five police officers were killed as sniper shots rained down on what was supposed to be a peaceful event, with at least nine other people injured as well.
As the chaos and uncertainty hovering over Dallas this morning add to the pain still reigning in Louisiana and Minnesota, witnesses of these woes have increasingly voiced their frustration, fears and tears at the senseless, avoidable violence that’s plagued the country all week. And while since Tuesday a series of athletes have used their platforms to spread messages of peace and prayer, LeBron James added his two cents Thursday night, tweeting the names of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile along with a single plea in the wake of the Dallas tragedy.
“We are all hurting tonight,” James tweeted. “More violence is not the answer.”
James also said that he cried over this week’s shootings, tweeting a link to a Time article about Castile’s background ― about how, before his death, Castile had been a “role model for hundreds of children” through his job as a school cafeteria supervisor.
This article says it all man! Sickens me and I shed multiple tears about it all. https://t.co/Tsj9646QoT #ItNeedsToStop #BlackLivesMatter
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 8, 2016
Other athletes echoed James’ words, pleading for an end to the brutality.
Dallas let's wake up this ain't us! We're better than this. We're hurting,upset,confused,sad,frustrated,tired & fed up but this ain't right!
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) July 8, 2016
Hurting for Dallas right now. It seems like we wake up or go to sleep reading more tragedies than not.I want to wake up from this nightmare.
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 8, 2016
This can't be life..
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 8, 2016
We need to stop killing innocent people. Period. Louisiana, Minnesota and now Dallas. My thoughts are with all families that are hurting.
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) July 8, 2016
💔 for the city of #Dallas. Prayers for all good, hard working, honorable police officers serving our communities. We need gun control now.
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) July 8, 2016
Heartbroken and outraged for Dallas.
— Lauren Holiday (@laurenholiday12) July 8, 2016
Prayers up for the officers &protestors shot in Dallas! This violence is like a horror movie I can't wakeup from! The trauma is unreal 💔
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) July 8, 2016
Just landed in Sacramento and found out about the cops getting murdered in Dallas. THIS IS NOT THE WAY. My prayers go out to their families.
— Garrett Temple (@GTemp14) July 8, 2016
Horrible news to wake up to today. Thoughts and prayers to Dallas PD DART PD and my city.
— Tyler Seguin (@tseguinofficial) July 8, 2016
#______ insert those officers name. They did nothing wrong down there in Dallas. Violence is not the answer
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) July 8, 2016
It's heartbreaking almost every morning to wake up to more violence and death.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) July 8, 2016
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) July 8, 2016
Please pray for the city of Dallas!
— Tim Brown (@81TimBrown) July 8, 2016
The city that raised me and the city I live in now. Pray for em. #batonrouge #dallas
— Ronald Leary (@RonLeary75) July 8, 2016
Out of town, but can't believe what I'm hearing is going on in Dallas. Too great off a city for this type of hatred! #PrayingForDallas 🙏🏾 😰
— TC98 #WorkK (@TCrawford98) July 8, 2016
We only have control over our reactions. Violence already in Dallas. Let that be end of it! Killing the innocent does not solve anything!
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) July 8, 2016
Parents this is a teaching moment to your kids. Speak into their hearts & minds and allow them to know how & why hatred & racism is WRONG!
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) July 8, 2016
This week has been tragic nationwide. This is not #Dallas. These are terrorists.
— Jack Crawford (@Sack_Religious) July 8, 2016
Grab your family by the hand and pray with them tonight and allow them to know how much u love them,appreciate & forgive them. Now! #Truth
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) July 8, 2016
Brainstorming how to make real change, Facebook and Instagram posts aren't enough for me. #Dallas #PrayForDallas
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) July 8, 2016
Having a great night and then hear this horrendous news about the shooting of these cops in Dallas. That is not the answer!! Come on guys!!😔
— Mark Ingram II (@MarkIngram22) July 8, 2016
All my people here in Dallas please be safe tonight... This is getting crazy man Praying for peace and safety for everyone
— Quincy Acy (@QuincyAcy) July 8, 2016
Just in prayer right now after news of all the shootings...
— Kelenna Azubuike (@KAzubuike7) July 8, 2016
Can't believe this is happening here. Waking up every morning and more shootings and more death. This is just crazy. THIS NEEDS TO STOP!!
— Sean May (@BigMay42) July 8, 2016
Bro, this is unreal. there is ZERO excuse for what's going on in Dallas. Innocent dying left & right.
— Ty Montgomery (@TyMontgomery2) July 8, 2016
This isn't the way people. These officers in Dallas haven't done anything to harm anyone. What is going on??? pic.twitter.com/oHo2vzJKD8
— Ian Williams (@IWilliams95) July 8, 2016
Prayers for all the officers in Dallas & across the country. my friends out there be careful thank you for your service #PrayersforDallas
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) July 8, 2016
So just when President Obama calls for our nation to do better...we have #Dallas. This is madness.
— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) July 8, 2016
#TGIF Stop the violence, increase the peace! #PositiveLiving
— Omar C. Bolden (@OmarBolden) July 8, 2016
What makes these killings or shootings in Dallas any different then the last two days. It's just not far. #UniteAmerica
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) July 8, 2016
Deeply saddened by tonights events in #Dallas ... A 2nd home for me and @CourtRua ... Prayers to everyone involved. #ViolenceIsNotTheAnswer
— Ryan Rua (@Rua_Numba_2) July 8, 2016
More heartbreak this morning! Praying for our country
— Justin Forsett (@JForsett) July 8, 2016
We live in a sad world right now....
— Matt Flynn (@mflynn3) July 8, 2016
🙏 #StoptheViolence #PrayingForDallas
— Carlo Colaiacovo (@CarloColaiacovo) July 8, 2016
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.