Racism is still finding its way into the game of hockey — even when the NHL has been paused due to the Coronavirus.
20-year-old K’Andre Miller is a first-round draft pick (22nd overall) of the New York Rangers. The team is currently doing a “Future Fridays” segment on the video conferencing platform ‘Zoom’ to help fans get to know the future of the team. Miller was scheduled to answer questions on Friday April 3rd.
Get ready for the future.
See you at 3 PM! pic.twitter.com/oPtayAeATZ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 3, 2020
Everything was going good with the video session, but the chat was disrupted by some brutal racism. Miller was repeatedly taunted with the word “ni**er” spammed in the public chat. It was a public zoom chat, so K’Andre was able to see what everyone was saying. You can tell by his reaction in the video below that he could see the racist words being used towards him.
People are so disgusting. It's absolutely awful that anyone would ever do this is any circumstance.
K'Andre Miller and the Rangers are trying to connect with fans and this is the shit that goes on. https://t.co/ffXjDpNxnB
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 3, 2020
Many fans who were watching the conversation with Miller were quick to alert the team about the racism that was taking place. Both the Rangers and the NHL officially came out with statements not very long after the incident occured.
A statement from #NYR: pic.twitter.com/Jo1RNmUdrr
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 3, 2020
Statement from the National Hockey League: pic.twitter.com/ykOTlDas6u
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 3, 2020
Miller’s future’s teammates have also come to his aid and are speaking out against racism. Defenseman Jacob Trouba noted that racism has no place in the hockey community, while forward Ryan Strome echoed that sentiment.
What happened today was inexcusable and cowardly. Racism has no place in the hockey community or the world. @kandre_miller we are excited to have you as a part of the @NYRangers and I look forward to having you as a teammate.
— Jacob Trouba (@JacobTrouba) April 4, 2020
Couldn’t of said it better. This team and this organization sticks together. You are one of us and we have your back! https://t.co/xvRjkYVxPY
— Ryan Strome (@strome18) April 4, 2020
The internet can be a cesspool, and the quarantine is bringing out the worst in some people. The positive from an incident like this one is how the hockey community can come together and reiterate the message that there is no place for racism in our sport.