I can't breathe.
These three words have become something of a slogan, or more accurately, a rallying cry, for supporters of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who died after unnecessarily being placed in a chokehold by a police officer who eventually escaped indictment, despite clear video evidence showing the altercation and Garner's non-violent actions.
This issue has garnered national attention, ignited innumerable demonstrations and celebrities, athletes and regular folks alike across the U.S. have taken to repeating the infamous words Garner continuously choked out as the breath was pressed from his body.
The latest athlete to show his support for Garner - and Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice - was Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush. Bush, whose Lions were readying to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wrote the rallying cry in big letters on the shirt he was wearing for pre-game warm-ups.
But he wasn't the only athlete to offer a show of solidarity.
Two days earlier, Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Rose set the example Bush followed, writing the "I can't breathe" message on his t-shirt for pre-game warm-ups.
On Sunday, Bush was joined by Cleveland Browns cornerback Johnson Bademosi and St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Davin Joseph in voicing their protests against a grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo.
Joseph wrote the message on his cleats, Bademosi, his chest. Washington Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker performed the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture - the touchstone of Michael Brown - after recording a sack against the Rams.
Just last week, five of St. Louis' receivers - Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook and Chris Givens - performed the gesture as they exited the tunnel before their game against the Oakland Raiders.
Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore, who grew up in St. Louis, wrote "RIP Mike Brown" on one of the shoes he wore during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies last week.
Such a divisive issue is bound to leave a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of many people across the world, no matter what your stance on the subject of indictment may be.
For Bush, Rose and other athletes who have and will continue to offer their own show of displeasure - athletes fortunate enough to hold a position of national prominence and to be viewed as role models - their choice to do so in such a clear and distinct fashion, and in such a highly-charged and seemingly fragile atmosphere, is a tricky one, especially so for the multi-billion dollar entities which employ them.