sport news Celtics' Jaylen Brown says he does NOT back 'anti-Semitic' group demonstrating ... trends now Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has denied supporting a sect of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement after admittedly misidentifying the allegedly anti-Semitic group demonstrating in support of Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving outside Barclays Center on Sunday. Footage of the demonstration surfaced on Twitter, showing dozens of purple-clad men marching outside Barclays Center in support of Irving, who was returning from an eight-game ban for promoting an allegedly anti-Semitic film produced by Black Hebrew Israelite author and director, Ronald Dalton Jr. Brown has steadfastly supported Irving, his former Celtics teammate, and did so again on Sunday, writing 'Energy' in response to the footage. But as Brown explained Monday, he thought the men in purple shirts were from the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, a nationwide group formed at Howard University that has included such notable African Americans as poet Langston Hughes, bandleader Count Basie, and the Reverend Jessie Jackson. 'I saw a large group of our people from our community showing support for [Kyrie] and his return,' Brown said Monday. 'Me being proud of that support and being proud of our community for doing that does not mean I endorse or celebrate some of the things that were being done or being said. 'My instinct when I saw this was I didn't notice which group it was. I just noticed the support, and that's what I commented on. I reemphasize that I don't think that everything that is said or being done or being said is something I endorse or represent.' Celtics Jaylen Brown on his tweets from last night.“I saw a large group of people from our community showing support for (Kyrie) and his return. Me being proud of that support does not mean I endorse or celebrate some of the things that were being done or being said” pic.twitter.com/xGYb2L6bay — Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) November 21, 2022 Hundreds of members of 'Israel United in Christ' gather outside the Barclays Center before the Brooklyn Nets game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Brooklyn. The organization was there to express their support for Kyrie Irving after he served an 8-game ban for a controversial tweet Jaylen Brown (left) has steadfastly supported Kyrie Irving (right), his former Celtics teammate. The Nets suspended Irving earlier this month after he tweeted a link to a film containing anti-Semitic tropes supporting the existence of a supposed Jewish conspiracy for world domination. That film, 'Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,' is based on a Black Hebrew Israelite book. Irving returned from his ban Sunday after his belated apology and meeting with Jewish leaders, as well as meeting other requirements set forth by the team Brown also offered an explanation on Twitter. 'I was not aware of what specific group that was outside of Barclay's Center tonight,' he wrote on Sunday evening. 'I was celebrating the unification of our people welcoming the return of Kyrie to the court, first glance I thought it was a known fraternity the (C/Que's) Omega psi phi (step'n) showing support' Brown tweeted 'Energy' upon seeing the group supporting Irving outside Barclays Center Brown also offered an explanation on Twitter. 'I was not aware of what specific group that was outside of Barclay's Center tonight,' he wrote on Sunday evening. 'I was celebrating the unification of our people welcoming the return of Kyrie to the court, first glance I thought it was a known fraternity the (C/Que's) Omega psi phi (step'n) showing support.' The Nets suspended Irving earlier this month after he tweeted a link to a film containing anti-Semitic tropes supporting the existence of a supposed Jewish conspiracy for world domination. That film, 'Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,' is based on a Black Hebrew Israelite book. Irving returned from his ban on Sunday after offering a belated apology and meeting with Jewish leaders, as well as meeting other requirements set forth by the team. But before the seven-time All-Star scored 14 points in a win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, he got support from a sect of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, the Members of Israel United in Christ, who allegedly distributed anti-Semitic materials to passers by outside Brooklyn's Barclays Center, according to the Associated Press. The Southern Poverty Law Center described the Church in 2008 as part of an 'extremist fringe,' adding that its followers 'believe that Jews are devilish impostors and ... openly condemn whites as evil personified, deserving only death or slavery.' However, the SPLC does not that those believes are not held by the entire group, adding that most followers are neither explicitly racist or anti-Semitic. Furthermore, the Anti-Defamation League has claimed that the group's website, '12 Tribes of Israel,' promotes hatred. Brown has his ties to several celebrities accused of anti-Semitism, including Kanye West. The rapper sparked global outrage after he tweeted on October 8: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE... you guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.' Brown, who previously signed deals with West's marketing company, initially hesitated to sever ties with the rapper, but ultimately decided to end their business relationship. Since then, in his role as a vice president in the NBA Players Association, Brown has been defending Irving over what he sees as an unfair punishment given to him by the Nets. At issue, Brown told the Boston Globe, is that the NBA's collective-bargaining agreement does not offer any guidance on player punishments for posting on social media. 'There is an interesting distinction between what somebody says verbally and what somebody posts as a link on a platform with no description behind it,' Brown earlier this month. 'Some people will argue there's no difference and some people will argue there is a difference. There's no language in our CBA. There's no rules against it. This is uncharted territory for everybody, and everybody is trying to figure out the difference between the two.' While Irving has apologized for his role in the controversy, his remorse may not save the Nets from being slapped with a grievance over his punishment. 'I've got to leave that to my legal team and leave it to the warriors I have around me,' Irving said Sunday after returning from his eight-game suspension, as quoted by The New York Times. 'I have strong people, men and women around me that are going to do everything possible to make sure that I am protected and my family is protected and we protect one another. 'So you know, I'm sure some things will be done in the future. There's no timetable on that right now.' All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility