6 | September 3, 2020 | DEFENDER NETWORK | 7 DN InFocusSOCIAL NBA stoppage Timeline ATHLETESTerrance Harris FIGHT SOCIAL INJUSTICE going on.  is is bigger than basketball and we wanted to show the world we are with them.” here is no doubt in Russell Westbrook’s In doing so, the NBA players showed the SUN., AUG. 23 mind that he is an unstoppable force in world the impact they can have on bringing Jacob Blake, a Black man, is shot in the back the backcourt. awareness to social injustice. When NBA play- seven times by Kenosha, Wisconsin police T offi cer Rusten Sheskey. But the Rockets star guard knows he was put ers pushed pause, the WNBA and some MLB, on this earth to be far more than that. NHL and NFL teams followed suit. MON., AUG, 24 “I believe, at least for me personally, that Respected sports sociologist Harry Edwards God has put me in this position for a reason believes the players made a powerful statement, Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill tells and it’s not just to be able to play basketball,” proving that their value is far greater than what media, “First of all, we shouldn’t even come to this damn place, to be honest. …” during Westbrook said, “but to use my platform to they do athletically. a discussion about the social injustice Black better be able to help other people and to help “I could see this one coming some time ago,” people in the country are facing. our youth and to help people across the globe Edwards said on ESPN’s First Take. “ ese bas- to understand how important diff erent things ketball players are not just basketball players. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweets, “And y’all wonder why we say what in life are.”  ey live in this society and they go and play we say about the Police!! …”  at has become the mission of Westbrook games, but many of them fearing that they will and many athletes across this country.  ey be shot [driving] to or the game.  ey share TUES., AUG. 25 won’t just shut up and play.  ey are speaking that reality with the broader community.” Following the Los Angeles Clippers Game 5 up and pushing back against racial injustice Edwards says now is the time for the players win over the Dallas Mavericks, Clippers coach and police brutality that seems to be unfairly to organize and come up with a plan of what Doc Rivers delivers impassioned speech affl icting Black people in this country. they want to see from ownership, which has the about social injustice and racial inequality It all culminated last Wednesday when the ears of local and national politicians. during the post-game press conference. players, following the lead of the Milwaukee “They must begin to come together and Bucks, declined to take the court during the understand the urgency of this moment,” WED., AUG. 26 NBA playoff s, leading to a three-day work stop- Edwards said. “ ey have moved beyond pro- The Milwaukee Bucks refuse to take the fl oor page that some called a boycott by the players. test to where a statement is made to boycotting The Los Angeles Clippers for the playoff game against the Orlando “I think we needed a couple of days to sit where you are sending a message. Now that pay tribute to the Black Lives Magic and the game is canceled. back and reflect on what’s going on in the message has to be meaningful and that means Matter movement prior to their NBA fi rst round playoff game Rockets-Oklahoma City Thunder and Los world,” Rockets guard James Harden said. getting everybody on the same page and begin- against the Dallas Mavericks. Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers playoff “And I think the world needed to know we ning to approach those people who have power AP/Ashley Landis games canceled because the players refuse are involved with them. We understand what’s to make changes.” to play. WNBA announces that its players will not participate in their playoff games and will stand with the NBA in boycotting the playoff s. Defender: What was your reaction to the latest NBA takes action Some MLB games are called as players stand police brutality incident with Jacob Blake in the physically, mentally … the pause was for a greater cause and Kenny Stills talks social justice Terrance Harris with the boycotting NBA players. not just for basketball, but for all of the social issues in our context of everything that has happened this When the Rockets prepared for Game 5 of the playoff s, world today. Obviously, based on recent events across the Tennis Star Naomi Osaka pulls out of the year? something didn’t feel quite right. Another Black man had Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills has easily by a police offi cer, don’t think that will be the world and recent police killings and shootings, it allowed us semi-fi nals of the Western & Southern Open been shot by the police just a few days earlier. This time a become the face of active NFL players in the end of Stills protesting against the injustices to use our platform to be able in protest of injustice. Stills: “Yeah, I think it further proves the point that Kenosha, Wisconsin police movement against police brutality and injustice to stop what we are doing and Black people face in this country. we need to make a change with what’s going on with offi cer pumped seven bullets The NBA and the NBA players have agreed to enact NBA players in the bubble meet until the ear- recognize.” toward Black people. Stills recently talked about Taylor, the Keno- our law enforcement. We have another unarmed in the back of Jacob Blake as the following commitments: ly morning hours with rumblings that some Suddenly, NBA players not players want to leave the bubble and end the When Stills was a member of the Miami Dol- sha shooting, and his protesting. Here is some Black man being shot seven times in front of his chil- his young children watched. 1. Immediately establish a social justice coalition, with only had the attention of team season, but more players want to play and phins he began joining Colin Kaepernick in taking of what he had to say. dren. I think there’s other ways to deescalate these Playing basketball in the representatives from players, coaches, and gover- owners but seemingly the fi nish out the playoff s. a knee during the playing of the national anthem Orlando bubble just seemed nors, that will focus on a broad range of issues, in- situations and just another horrible example of what world. Next thing they knew as a form of protest. And the 28-year-old veter- Defender: What were your takeaways from empty for many NBA players cluding increasing access to voting, promoting civic our law enforcement is doing to our people.” their contemporaries from the THURS., AUG. 27 an has continued to be active in the movement. the experience of being arrested in Louisville? that day. Then word got out engagement, and advocating for meaningful police that the Milwaukee Bucks WNBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL Players meet again and decide that they will In July, Stills was among 87 protesters arrested and criminal justice reform. Defender: What were your conversations like were refusing to take the court also stopped working tem- resume the playoff s at some point. Kenny Stills: “We went to Louisville to bring 2. In every city where the league franchise owns and in Louisville when they marched to with Roger Goodell, and what do you think about for their fi rst-round playoff porarily. Athletes using their more attention to Breonna Taylor’s case. We’ve controls the arena property, team governors will NBA owners and the commissioner meet to the home of Kentucky Attorney him saying he should have listened to Colin Game 5 against Orlando. Their platform to stand up against tried to do everything we can to get in continue to work with local elections offi cials to discuss the situation and come up with a General Daniel Cameron to Kaepernick about kneeling? decision had a domino eff ect racial injustice and police bru- convert the facility into a voting location for the game-plan on how they hope to proceed. demand action against the touch with Daniel Cameron to sit down on the next games that day tality dominated the news and 2020 general election to allow for a safe in-person police offi cers who shot and have a conversation with him and Stills: “Honestly, I don’t really have too many at Disney World, including the the issue of police reform took No basketball is played for the second day voting option for communities vulnerable to COVID. center stage. in a row. and killed Breonna Taylor fi gure out what’s going on with this thoughts about it. He can say whatever he wants to Rockets-Oklahoma City game. “For us to be able to pause in her home in March. case. It’s been over 155, almost 160 say now, but in a sense, if we would’ve taken a more It would be the fi rst day of 3. Work with the players and their network partners a three-day stoppage in the to create and include advertising spots in each NBA and take a break, and to be FRI., AUG. 28 The charges were days, I think, now. There’s been no jus- stern stance and he would’ve listened to us at the bubble that was highlighted playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic able to come to a few things National Basketball Players Association dropped a couple of days tice served in this case. Yeah, we went beginning of this, there would’ve been so many lives by emotional meetings among engagement in national and local elections and rais- that we think, is important Board of Governors and NBA reach a reso- later, but with continued there to bring more attention to this that could’ve been saved. There’s a lot of progress the players and then a meeting ing awareness around voter access and opportunity. for now …” Westbrook said. lution on voting outreach and social justice senseless shootings like the case and we’re hoping that something that we could’ve made within our law enforcement, between the players in the “Obviously, there are so many initiatives. It’s decided that play will resume one that took place in Keno- can happen soon. We need the offi cers to within our police. It’s a nice gesture, I guess, to say bubble, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the owners. other things going on in our society that we can tackle. But I Sat., Aug. 29. sha, Wis. last month where Jacob be arrested, fi red and prosecuted for what he wishes he would’ve done something diff erent. The coming together produced an action plan that mostly think initially tackling our voting and fi nding ways to be able Blake was shot seven times in the back they did to Breonna Taylor.” But look at the NFL.” involved voting initiatives, but it was a start. to use our arenas and our teams to be able to understand SAT., AUG. 29 “I think it’s great. I think we all needed a pause,” said why voting is important. I think that is a trickle-down eff ect NBA Playoff s in the Orlando bubble at Disney Rockets guard Russell Westbrook. “I think emotionally, on our police reform.” World resumes.