FLASHBACK: Woke NBA coach Steve Kerr called for removal of cops from schools

Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr went viral Tuesday night for comments he made about gun control, in the aftermath of the massacre at a Texas elementary school which killed 19 children and two teachers, before the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

However, in 2020, Kerr rallied for police to be taken off of Oakland school campuses. Following the rally, the district voted unanimously to remove the officers from campuses.

In a pre-game presser Tuesday night, Kerr delivered a plea to lawmakers to take action on gun control. "When are we going to do something?" Kerr asked as he slammed his fists on a table.

Kerr added, "There's 50 senators right now who refuse to vote on HR 8 which is a background check rule that the House passed a couple of years ago. It's been sitting there for two years. And there's a reason they won't vote on it – to hold on to power."

"So I ask you, Mitch McConnell, I ask all of you senators who refuse to do anything about the violence and school shootings and supermarket shootings, I ask you: Are you going to put your own desire for power ahead of the lives of our children and our elderly and our churchgoers? Because that's what it looks like. That's what we do every week," Kerr continued.

The coach then said, "I'm fed up, I've had enough. We're gonna play the game tonight, but I want every person here, every person listening to this, to think about your own child, your grandchild, your mother, father, sister, or brother – how would you feel if this happened to you today? We can't get numb to this. We can't sit here and just read about it and go 'Well, let's have a moment of silence, yeah, go Dubbs. Come on Mavs, let's go.'"

"That's what we're gonna do. We're gonna play a basketball game. And 50 senators in Washington are gonna hold us hostage. You realize that 90 percent of Americans, regardless of political party, want universal background checks? We are being held hostage by 50 senators in Washington who refuse to even put it to a vote despite what we, the American people, want."

"They won't vote on it because they want to hold on to their own power. It's pathetic, I've had enough," Kerr said and walked off the stage and headed to the game where the Warriors fell to the Mavericks 109 - 119.

However, in June of 2020, during the height of the riots that were sweeping across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Kerr rallied with hundred in East Oakland advocating for the Oakland Unified School district to dismantle their internal police force.

"I can’t tell you how many people, friends, colleagues, coaches, players have gathered and talked saying what can we do, what can we do?" said Kerr. "Now it seems like we’re at a tipping point, there’s a breakthrough here.”"

"I’ve learned that the answers lie within the communities themselves. They don’t lie in a politicians office," Kerr continued. "I’ve learned we need to listen to the people who are in the communities, that’s why I’m here today because I want to support all of you?"

Kerr spoke to the crowd saying, "This is a real reckoning for much of America, especially white America."

"You really have to listen to the community in terms of what’s happening and what’s best for the community," added Kerr.

The district, which only employed 10 officers at the time, was being pressed by activists to spend money instead on hiring counselors, librarians and teachers.

"That’s what the community is calling for and I’m all in support of that," Kerr said.

Kerr continued that it’s not enough to say Black Lives Matter. "This to me, what it’s about. Because you got to learn, you have to understand what is happening out there. If you care about something you got to add your own work, your own impact, that’s what I’m trying to do."

Following Kerr’s speech, the district unanimously passed a measure to remove police from schools, dubbed the "George Floyd Resolution to Eliminate Oakland Schools Police Department." $2.5 million was redirected toward "student support services and restorative justice."