happiness ChikwanhaNEW YORK. — Major United States sporting events were called off on Wednesday as athletes protested against racial injustice following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last week.
Three NBA play-off games, two Major League Baseball matches, three WNBA fixtures and five Major League Soccer games were postponed after player-led actions in response to the shooting of African-American Blake and the civil unrest that has followed.
The NBA postponed Wednesday’s three basketball play-off games after the Milwaukee Bucks called off their fixture in protest at the shooting of Blake.
Blake, a black man, was shot seven times in the back by police on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin near Milwaukee.
In baseball, three MLB games were called off after teams decided not to play, and five MLS matches have been postponed.
Tennis player Naomi Osaka pulled out of a WTA match yesterday.
She tweeted that she would no longer play her semi-final in the Western & Southern Open in New York, saying that “as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis”.
The US Tennis Association, ATP and WTA subsequently announced it was pausing play at the Western & Southern Open yesterday and would resume today, adding that “tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice”.
After calling off their game against the Orlando Magic, the Bucks players released a statement that said: “Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.
“When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort and hold each other accountable.
“We hold ourselves to that standard, and in this moment, we are demanding the same from our lawmakers and law enforcement.
“We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable.”
The Seattle Mariners announced they had decided not to play the second game in their MLB series against the San Diego Padres.
The decision was based on a unanimous vote from the players, Mariners player Dee Gordon tweeted.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds also postponed their home MLB game scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
“The players from the Brewers and Reds have decided not to play tonight’s baseball game,” said a statement issued by the Brewers.
“With our community and our nation in such pain, we wanted to draw as much attention to the issues that really matter, especially racial injustice and systemic oppression.”
California rivals the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers postponed their scheduled game and issued a joint statement that said: “Throughout our country’s history, sport has been a powerful vehicle towards change.
“The Dodgers and Giants proudly join our players in the shared goal for a more equitable and just society.”
The WNBA postponed all three games due to take place in the bubble in Bradenton, Florida on Wednesday.
The players linked arms on court, with a group wearing T-shirts that spelled out Blake’s name and also seven holes in them representing how many times he was shot by police. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter