The Players Alliance, consisting of more than 100 Black current and former MLB players, announced Thursday that its members will donate their salaries from Thursday and Friday’s games to the organization to support their efforts to combat racial equality and Blacks helping families and communities affected by recent events.
MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on Friday in the week in which three games were postponed Wednesday and seven on Thursday when players responded to the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin.
“The color of our skin is the uniform we wear every day. We cannot change that,” The Players Alliance said in a statement. “What we can change is the pain and injustice that the Black community has suffered for far too long. We are determined to use our platform to speak out, and encourage our teammates and fans to make our voices even louder. .
“… We can not stand idly by and wait for change – in our game as in our country. We encourage our allies and fans to get involved in action. With your support we can and will rewrite our story, a a more equal world in which we can all live together. “
Curtis Granderson is the chairman of the group with CC Sabathia and Edwin Jackson also on the board of directors. The active player advisory firm consists of Tim Anderson, Dexter Fowler, Dee Gordon, Jason Heyward, Aaron Hicks, Cameron Maybin and Andrew McCutchen.
Dodgers fielder Mookie Betts is a member of the group and said Wednesday that he was ready to sit out tonight’s game in San Francisco even before both teams chose to postpone it in protest of Blake’s shooting.
Blake was shot seven times Sunday by police as he tried to enter the side door of the driver of his car with three of his children inside. Video of the shooting was circulated on social media, prompting more protests and causing or speaking out for more athletes.
“For me, I think, whatever, I would not play tonight,” Betts said.
“I have to use my platform to at least get the ball rolling,” he said.
Heyward was removed from the Cubs lineup shortly before the start of their game against the Tigers.
“There were several guys who said they were not comfortable going out and playing when I was not going out. They did not want to let me hang out,” Heyward said. “I let them know, encouraged them – no, go play the game. I do not think the game should be canceled. But I think I should do what I have to do.”
While the Rockies played Wednesday, Matt Kemp, a member of The Players Alliance, did not play and shared his thoughts on Twitter.
“I could not play this game, I love so much of the evening, knew the hurt and pain my people feel,” he wrote. “In a world where we are the ones who need to stay calm while a trained professional points a gun in our face; a world where the people in uniforms who have taken an oath to protect us are the same who kill us; a world where we become hashtags before we even reach our potential; we must stand together, speak out, protest, and be the change we demand, need, and so little need. “
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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