Jazz fan looks to raise $25K for Human Rights Campaign after Russ incident
Utah Jazz supporter Devin Deaton is hoping to turn a negative into a positive following a verbal altercation on Monday between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and another Jazz fan at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Deaton created a GoFundMe campaign on Tuesday to raise $25,000 for the Human Rights Campaign, the same amount the NBA fined Westbrook for directing profanity at the fan.
The fan was permanently banned from the building for heckling Westbrook following a thorough investigation. The eight-time All-Star told reporters after the Thunder's 98-89 win that the fan told him "to get down on my knees like you used to."
Deaton wrote that it's "time to change the narrative on citizens of Utah."
"We are not a bunch of redneck, racist, bigots," he continued. "Most of us are dads, moms, friends, hard-workers, kind-hearted, do right by each other, help our fellow man, good neighbors and welcoming to all.
"I have been a Utah Jazz fan my entire life. My family has had season tickets on the 2nd row since I was 5 years old. I have been to 100+ Jazz games and had friendly banter with players from Charles Barkley to Russell Westbrook and every era in between. I have never personally experience racism or bigotry. I pride myself in being respectful to the players. I want the national media to see who we really are."
The GoFundMe has raised just over $9,000 at the time of publishing.