Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell writes ‘End Gun Violence’ on his game shoes

Wednesday night during the Jazz’s 107-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Arena, Donovan Mitchell wore shoes in which he had written “Pray For Parkland” on one and “End Gun Violence” on the other.

Asked after the game what his motivation behind the message was, Mitchell noted in an eloquent response that he was just a short distance from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, five years ago when a shooting took place at an elementary school there.

After the game @spidadmitchell explained why he wrote "End Gun Violence" and "Pray for Parkland" on his shoes. He may be a rookie but Donovan Mitchell is wise beyond his years. #TakeNote #jazz #ROY pic.twitter.com/LWlmOrRqeY

— Brittany Copeland (@brittanydiehl) February 15, 2018

“It’s kind of scary that could happen at any moment anywhere. I think that’s just one of the things that kind of hit home with me,” he said, adding that he sat in disbelief at his locker before Wednesday’s game upon seeing footage on Snapchat of what happened earlier in the day. “My prayers go out to all those families, man. It’s tough. It’s crazy.

We’ve definitely got to do something about it. A lot of people, we talk about it, and there’s a lot of so-called awareness of it, but there’s nothing being done…it’s interesting how it just continues to happen over and over again and the movement doesn’t really do much. Just the fact that it’s happening in the schools is one thing that’s just like, ‘Man.'”
-By Ryan McDonald, Deseret News

Donovan Mitchell on the message written on his shoes:

"I think it's kind of one of those things that hit home to me."

>> https://t.co/mYUk70m3YG pic.twitter.com/LTsGINkR1O

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 15, 2018

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