Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony joined Baltimore protesters in his former hometown Thursday for a three-mile walk to City Hall, saying it’s time to “calm down and relax.’’
In the wake of riots that have torn apart his city, Anthony called it a “peaceful march’’ and preached for his city’s denizens to “be patient.’’
Anthony, a boxing aficionado, wore a Cassius Clay shirt as he participated in the march. Anthony was born in Brooklyn, but moved to Baltimore when he was 9.
“It was only right for me to come down here,” Anthony told CNN. “This is one Baltimore, man. Now is the time to rebuild this city back up. There is no need for us to tear it down.”
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In an interview with Channel 2-WMAR in Baltimore, Anthony said: “This is the easy part, me walking down the streets that I grew up. My message to the city, especially the youth: calm down and relax, I understand the severity of what’s going on right now. I understand the anger that our youth is feeling right now. We gotta put our arms around the youth and carry them along with us. I tell people all the time: ‘We gonna get the justice that we want. It’s gonna be served.’ ’’
Anthony entered the NBA sporting a West Baltimore tattoo. That part of the city became the site of riots after the death of Freddie Gray, 25, in police custody.
“Let’s just be kind of patient,’’ Anthony told CNN. “That’s easier said than done,, but we have to be patient to get what we want.”
Anthony’s business manager, Bay Frazier, also hails from Baltimore.
“I understand where everyone’s coming from,’’ said Anthony, who had knee surgery in late February on a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and can’t resume basketball activities until June 1. “Our community is fed up. They are fed up right now, but there are different ways you can go about it. I’m here to lead that kind of toward the right path. This is a peaceful march.’’