Fans Condemn NBA Star James Harden for Wearing Face Mask With Pro-Cop Symbol

James Harden has got himself in a pretty huge controversy for appearing to wear a "Blue Lives Matter" face mask on Thursday.

The NBA has actively been supporting the Black Lives Matter campaign after the tragic death of George Floyd earlier this year. Part of the campaign is based on police brutality that takes place regularly in the USA.

In a picture the Rockets posted on their Twitter account, Harden can be seen wearing the face-covering sporting a black and white American flag with a singular blue stripe in the middle.

Mask Up

📸 @NBA pic.twitter.com/PFsIuJybYb

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 17, 2020

The Masked Beard!#WholeNewGame pic.twitter.com/DJrp23M5TL

— NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2020

It could that the former MVP was unaware of the meaning of the mask and was just trying to make a fashion statement. If Harden was aware of it, that could mean that he will have to do some damage control and get the fans back on his side.

The color scheme has long been associated with "Blue Lives Matter," a kind of counter-movement to the "Black Lives Matter" organization that has championed protest against police brutality and racial discrimination.

The symbol, however, has since been adopted by both military and law enforcement personnel. Several members of the U.S. Navy SEALs used it during the Iraq War, while the famed skull emblem became popular within the Blue Lives Matter movement at the end of the past decade.

In 2017, The Washington Post reported a variation of the symbol was used by protesters at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August of the same year. The rally descended into violence when participants clashed with counter-protesters and three people, including two state troopers, were killed.

Gerry Conway, The Punisher co-creator, has long condemned the appropriation of the symbol by law enforcement forces, describing it as disturbing.

Predictably, NBA Twitter was far from impressed with Harden's mask and let him have it:.

Just so u know James harden is my brada... btw he don’t have internet so he obviously don’t know what’s right or wrong if he posted something that’s against US...but I hate when rappers get in niggas biz like it’s can’t happen to em💥 buster let niggas clear they shit up activist

— Young Thug ひ (@youngthug) July 17, 2020

Russell Westbrook the next time he sees James Harden at practice pic.twitter.com/LFGmMp20GJ

— Rob (40-24) (@Hou5ton4L) July 17, 2020

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

James Harden will wear “Blue Lives Matter” on the back of his jersey. pic.twitter.com/g02GMdUNXb

— Lakers⋆Hoops🇵🇭™ (@LakersHoopsPH) July 17, 2020

I KNEW JAMES HARDEN WAS A NAZI pic.twitter.com/y7BdV20BBi

— Daquan (@DaquanHappIsHot) July 17, 2020

It's going to be great when "fans" force James Harden and the Rockets to apologize because they didn't realize this is a Blue Lives Matter bandana.

But to disavow this mask will be proof that they hate police.

Fun! https://t.co/aMFBDEf8cb

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 17, 2020

Officer James Harden when HPD lets him go on a ride along. pic.twitter.com/PrDTaQ5pum

— Yip Yip with the Blip Blip (@PBS_Impulse9) July 17, 2020

Always thought James Harden was a cornball.

Now, it’s confirmed 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/1jSJDFvudy

— ... (@ShallowAL__) July 17, 2020

Wow. I never knew I hated James Harden and Houston and the general concept of space before. pic.twitter.com/Vj3E1MZadg

— Captain Save-A-Ho(rnet) (@ThugaManLaForge) July 17, 2020

James Harden is just like the police, he looks to pull up and shoot immediately without thinking pic.twitter.com/KtTnbTKrwf

— Kermit The Simp (@ImGonnaSimp) July 17, 2020

The Rockets restart their campaign against the Dallas Mavericks on 31st July at the Orlando Bubble.

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