Following the horrific shooting of 29-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin man, Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times by the police in front of his kids and left paralyzed, the NBA, MLB, WNBA, MLS, and other athletes and sports officials are standing in solidarity against systemic racism and police brutality.
After the Milwaukee Bucks kicked off the protest by using their agency to not play their playoff game against the Orlando Magic, several teams followed suit such as the Houston Rockets, OKC Thunder, the Lakers, and the Portland Trailblazers.
Full statement from the Milwaukee Bucks: pic.twitter.com/jjGEyVcCmB
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020
The NBA would later put out a statement that Game 5 of each series is postponed. To follow, MLB games between Milwaukee and Cincinnati and Seattle and San Diego were postponed in protest, three WNBA games, and five MLS games including the Atlanta United and InterMiami game.
Many of the athletes and sports officials, such as Naomi Osaka, LeBron James, Doc Rivers, Kenny Smith have spoken out against injustice and are demanding change.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
“We are scared as Black people in America. … Black men, Black women, Black kids. We are terrified.”
LeBron shared a powerful message on Jacob Blake and what it’s like to be African American in America. pic.twitter.com/UOMD7rk7Bd
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2020
Proud of my brothers✊🏻@Bucks @NBA #NecessaryGoodTrouble #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/sYOos4prW8
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 26, 2020
Kenny “The Jet” Smith has walked out of NBA on TNT studios in solidarity with NBA players boycotting Game 5 in a demand for justice for Jacob Blake. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/AoFl5Jn0LH
— BET (@BET) August 26, 2020
Stills on the WI shooting: “I think it further proves the point that we need to make a change with what is going on with our law enforcement … another unarmed black man being shot seven times in front of his children, I think there’s other ways to deescalate these situations.” pic.twitter.com/MMX3TLSDwL
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) August 24, 2020
What do you think of the sports world standing in solidarity against police brutality and systemic racism?
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