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Many members of the Washington Mystics posted their reactions to yesterday’s siege on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of American President Donald Trump.
I was most interested in what forward Emma Meesseman would think about it. Her perspective would be unique in part because she isn’t American. She generally hasn’t been as active as other Mystics players on American political issues. After all, the U.S. isn’t her country, even if she considers the District her second home.
So, as it turns out, Meesseman is no fan of President Trump nor the siege that happened yesterday.
Please be safe in Washington Dc!
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
So are they going to say this is a peaceful protest?
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
‘We love you, you’re special’ - Trump to the people who stormed the US Capitol. Ok.
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
Arrest Trump. Goodnight.
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
It didn’t stop there.
Emma je stelt zwaar teleur. Die man wit of zwart speelt geen rol moet luisteren naar de ordediensten . Hij loopt naar zijn wagen om iets te pakken. Kon een pistool zijn ook. Dus doe niet mee met die zwaar overroepen heisa daar.
— Bruyninckx Thomas (@BruyninckxThom) January 6, 2021
Remember when Jacob Blake was shot seven times last August, and the news of that incident sparked game boycotts in the WNBA and NBA? Meesseman made it clear last August that she was supporting Black Lives Matter in a Tweet.
And somehow ... another person who decided to reply to her on that subject from an old tweet decided to respond to it ... today, probably after seeing why she was voicing her opinion on the events in Washington. The tweets are in Dutch, Meesseman’s native language but we’ll give you an English translation in a bit below:
Emma je stelt zwaar teleur. Die man wit of zwart speelt geen rol moet luisteren naar de ordediensten . Hij loopt naar zijn wagen om iets te pakken. Kon een pistool zijn ook. Dus doe niet mee met die zwaar overroepen heisa daar.
— Bruyninckx Thomas (@BruyninckxThom) January 6, 2021
The person who responded ... today ... said this, more or less:
Emma, you’re very disappointing. This man [Blake], white or black plays no role and should listen to the authorities. He walked to his car to get something. Could have been a pistol too. Don’t get into the crazy mess over there [in the USA].
Our reaction? Ongelooflijk!
En wat was haar reactie? Okay, wrong language. What was her reaction?
She subtweeted him, basically saying, “I disappoint,” sarcastically of course, like our commenters do from time to time.
‘Moet luisteren naar ordediensten’ ‘Zwaar overroepen heisa’
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
Jaja, ik stel teleur... https://t.co/JHd8YaF1zW
Meesseman responded to him directly as well.
Ik stel teleur? Je zegt het zelf, hij wandelt naar zijn wagen, omringd door *getrainde* politieagenten. En dan is het toch de enige oplossing om hem 7 maal in de rug te schieten? Ik denk dat ze in de opleiding toch iets anders leren.
— Emma Meesseman (@EmmaMeesseman) January 6, 2021
In her response, Meesseman said “I disappoint? You said it yourself, he [Blake] walked to his car, surrounded by trained cops. And then, is it the only solution for them to shoot him 7 times in the back? I think that they learn something different in training.”
I don’t think Meesseman should be told to be silent about what is going on in the world. And since the Mystics are among the most active teams in the WNBA regarding social justice issues such as police brutality against African Americans, I wouldn’t expect anything less.
We are proud of you rep’ing the District Emma!
Natasha Cloud, Aerial Powers, Elena Delle Donne among other Mystics who react to Wednesday’s siege
Other Mystics players have given their reactions. Natasha Cloud didn’t hold back either. She implied that if the people who initiated the siege were Black, there may have been a stronger responses militarily, and that lethal force would be used.
Let me be very clear here. If they were black or fighting for BLM y’all would have deployed them already. https://t.co/G5oV0sp6mB
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) January 6, 2021
AGAIN IF THEY WERE BLACK THEY WOULD HAVE UNLOADED ALL THEIR CLIPS. https://t.co/LBPonhylhm
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) January 6, 2021
Many Mystics players have given their reactions on today's events. Here's @T_Cloud4's from her IG. pic.twitter.com/UkmbI85nZz
— BF_Mystics (@BF_mystics) January 7, 2021
Aerial Powers had a short tweet, but it echoes Cloud’s point about what could have happened if the protestors who ended up rioting and sieging the Capitol were Black.
I can’t put into words how I feel right now! All I have to say is double standards!
— Aerial Powers (@aerial_powers23) January 6, 2021
Elena Delle Donne also wrote a statement which also mentioned white privilege.
And here is EDD's reaction on today's events from her IG. pic.twitter.com/VDMORTrWaM
— BF_Mystics (@BF_mystics) January 7, 2021