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The NBA playoffs will resume on Saturday after a “productive” meeting between the league, players and team governors in which new promises of social justice were made.
A series of major sporting events in the United States were postponed in the past two days after NBA stars began boycotting the games in protest of the Jacob Blake police shooting in Wisconsin last week.
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The agreement was announced a day after players, coaches and team managers had a frank discussion about next steps to advance collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality.
As part of the agreement, the NBA and its players will establish a ‘social justice coalition’ that will focus on a wide range of issues, including:
- increase access to voting
- promote civic engagement
- advocate for meaningful police and criminal justice reform
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The teams that own and control their stadiums will also work with local election officials to convert the facility into a polling place for the 2020 presidential elections to allow a secure in-person voting option for Covid-19 vulnerable areas.
The league also said it will work to include advertisements at every NBA playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness of voter access and opportunities.
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“These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, and creating an NBA Foundation focused on the economic empowerment of the community. black, “said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. and NBPA CEO Michele Roberts said in a joint statement.
“We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and to continue working together, in Orlando and across all NBA team markets, to drive meaningful and sustainable change.”
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An athlete collective, led by LeBron James, who is fighting to combat voter suppression announced last week a multi-million dollar initiative to increase the number of poll workers in black constituencies ahead of the November general election.
‘More Than One Vote’ aims to recruit young people to serve at polling places in black communities in swing states, including Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida and Ohio.
Trump calls NBA a ‘political organization’
Donald Trump had said ‘I don’t think that’s a good thing’ that players are protesting
Donald Trump had labeled the NBA a “political organization” on Thursday when the protests escalated.
The president of the United States intervened after players and teams at the highest levels of basketball, baseball, soccer and tennis refused to participate in games scheduled for Wednesday night.
While President Trump admitted that he didn’t know much about the Blake shooting, he spoke about the actions of NBA teams.
“They have become a political organization and that is not good,” he said Thursday.
“I don’t think that’s a good thing for sports or for the country.”
NBPA president is proud to see the ‘real action’
National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul says he’s pleased with how NBA players came together to act collectively and hopes to see real action as a result.
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“What we are doing right now in our league is huge. It’s good for the young people to have the opportunity to see everyone come together to talk and see the real action,” he said. Sky Sports News.
“These guys are tired, and I mean tired. Not physically tired, but tired of seeing the same thing over and over again.
“I was lucky enough to speak with Jacob Blake’s father, he was in my hometown of Salem for a while, he’s exciting.
“We are all hurt and tired. Everyone hopes that we are well because they pay us a lot.
“We are human, we have real feelings and I am glad we had the opportunity to really speak to each other.”
MLS confirms season will resume
MLS has confirmed that the league will resume on Saturday morning after protests from players on Wednesday.
A statement released by the league said: “After a period of reflection and conversation with Black Players for Change (BPC), the league’s players and the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), matches will resume starting tonight with the Montreal Impact as host of Toronto. FC. “
Black Players for Change has been granted a meeting with the team owners to discuss further changes both within and outside the league.
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