#BlackLivesMatter: Kobe Bryant Once Wore 'I Can't Breathe' Shirt, Vanessa Supports Protests

Vanessa Bryant has shared a throwback photo of her late husband and NBA legend Kobe Bryant wearing a black shirt that read “I can’t breathe” in 2014.

The photo is a clear-cut representation of America’s ongoing protest against the recent killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a police officer pinned him down by the neck with his knee.

On Saturday (May 30), Vanessa, 38, then took to Instagram to share a photo of her late husband Kobe wearing a shirt that read reverberated the incident.

"My husband wore this shirt years ago and yet here we are again. #ICANTBREATHE," the mother of four penned on her post. "Life is so fragile. Life is so unpredictable. Life is too short. Let’s share and embrace the beautiful qualities and similarities we all share as people."

"Drive out hate," Vanessa wrote. "Teach respect and love for all at home and school. Spread LOVE. Fight for change- register to VOTE. Do not use innocent lives lost as an excuse to loot. BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE. #BLACKLIVESMATTER."

“I can’t breathe” were the words Floyd had uttered when he was nailed down by Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer. Floyd was handcuffed lying face down on a city street during his arrest. Chauvin had kept his knee on the right side of Floyd’s neck until he became unresponsive.

The incident was recorded on smartphones by several bystanders and later circulated on social media.

Meanwhile, Vanessa’s throwback post of Kobe’s “I can’t breathe” shirt was actually related to a similar occurrence to the controversial death of Floyd.

The late LA Lakers shooting guard first wore the shirt in 2014 to protest the death of Eric Garner, a black American who was also killed by police in New York after an officer put him on chokehold by placing an arm around his neck during arrest.

The words “I can’t breathe” was also uttered 11 times by Garner before he lost consciousness.

In an interview with SB Nation, Kobe opened up about his decision to wear the symbolic shirt saying that his act was to “support that movement and “supporting each other, as well as athletes.”

"I think the beauty of our country lies in its democracy," the NBA legend shared. "I think if we ever lose the courage to be able to speak up for things that we believe in, I think we really lose the value that our country stands for. It's important that we have our opinions, it's important that we stand up for what we believe in. We all don't have to agree with it, and that's completely fine, that's what makes this a beautiful country."