Editor's Note: The following story contains details about gun violence, and may be distressing for some readers.
After Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr's emotional speech about the Texas school shooting on Tuesday, the Miami Heat took some action on Wednesday.
Following a moment of silence for the victims prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, the Heat asked their fans to call Florida senators.
"The Heat urges you to contact your state senators by calling 202-224-3121 to leave a message demanding their support for common-sense gun laws," the public address announcer said. "You can also make change at the ballot box."
A passionate Kerr pointed the finger at senators in his address to the media on Tuesday.
"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?',” Kerr asked.
Kerr is fighting for the passing of legislation that would require background checks for gun purchases across the United States.
Nineteen students and two adults died in the Uvalde, Texas shooting on Tuesday.
It came just 10 days after 10 people died in a mass shooting in a Buffalo, N.Y. supermarket targeting the Black community.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra opened his pre-game press conference Wednesday talking about the events in Texas.
“I can’t even imagine what that community and the families are feeling in that kind of scenario, going to school and seeing all the police cars and everything,” Spoelstra said.
“I think there’s certainly -- after continued events, there’s a call to action. I think everybody is trying to figure out a way to be heard, to force some kind of change from the people that can make change. I just really feel for all the families.”
