Brittney Griner.
Brittney Griner.AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
  • The congressman asked Biden and Congress to work on freeing the basketball player.

  • Reed said a large portion of Russians were racist.

  • According to Reed, the Russian government discriminates against the LGBTQ community.

A Marine Corps veteran freed from Russian custody said at a Houston rally for basketball starBrittney Griner that she may be in a "worse position" because she is black and lesbian.

"Brittney is probably in a worse position than I was because she is black." A lot of the population in Russia is racist.

There is a government that discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transexual people. "Brittney's time there will be more difficult than if they just took another American hostage."

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was arrested in Russia on February 17 after authorities said they found drugs in her luggage. The US State Department classified him as "wrongfully detain"

Reed was sentenced to prison in Moscow for attacking police. He was released from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner swap. Reed's family said he had a broken rib and caught Covid-19 during his time in a Russian prison.

Reed advocated for the release of Paul Whelan, a marine veteran who was arrested by the Russians after being accused of espionage. He was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison.

Reed told attendees to put pressure on the White House and Congress to free the two prisoners.

In Russia there is no justice. "Brittney and Paul won't get justice in Russia." They won't get a fair trial. A fair investigation will not be given to them. Until the United States gets them out, they'll be there.

Business Insider has an article on it.