A32 | Sunday, August 30,2020 | ExpressNews.com |San Antonio Express-News OTHER VIEWS Black athletes again call for justice, change CARY CLACK es to themselves financially.” Commentary America has never been com- fortable with Black (or white) athletes nonviolently protesting the nation’s racism or challeng- ing the status quo, whether it was Ali, Bill Russell, Curt Flood, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, WNBA players or Kaepernick. Then again, America has never been comfortable with In 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. any nonviolent protests forcing and Muhammad Ali were the it to acknowledge and correct two most famous Black men in wrongs. America— and two of the most In 2016, the Washington Post despised people in the country. reviewed polling data of the civil King’s nonviolent protests for rights era and found 57 percent civil rights had grown weari- of Americans believed demon- some to people, especially since strations such as the lunch he’d expanded his focus to counter sit-ins and the freedom include poverty and the Viet- rides would hurt Blacks’ cause nam War. for civil rights. Ali’s refusal to be inducted Pool /Getty Images Even the March on Washing- into the U.S. Army to fight in the The basketball court was empty Wednesday after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their game ton, where King delivered his “I Vietnam War cost him his against the Orlando Magic to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. Have a Dream” speech, 60 per- heavyweight championship belt cent of Americans, in the days and the peak years of his liveli- Bucks refused to take the court against injustices and racism in wasn’t protesting the military, leading up to it, thought it was a hood while earning him the for their NBA playoff game the United States; to talk can- the flag,or all police officers, bad idea. most intense hatred ever experi- against the Orlando Magic. didly and painfully about their but his critics insisted that’s Many people who say they enced by an American athlete. The Bucks’ surprise strike experiences as Black men and what he was doing. admire King would admire him Ahatred deepened by his being inspired two days unlike any women in a nation they love, How arrogant are you that much less were he alive and aBlack Muslim. seen in American sports as butas Los Angeles Clippers when someone tells you why doing his thing today, making Today, King’s birthday is a more teams in the NBA, Major head coach Doc Rivers power- they’re protesting, you tell them them uncomfortable with his national holiday and Ali is, argu- League Baseball, WNBA, and fully said, “doesn’t love us they’re wrong? demonstrations and forcing ably, the most revered athlete in National Hockey League voted back.” And it’s arrogant to tell ath- them to think about things history who, at the time of his to not play or had their games Rivers was just one of at least letes they shouldn’t protest, but they’d rather not. 2016 death, was as beloved as postponed by their leagues. four prominent sports figures, should be grateful for their King isn’t alive to do his thing anyone in the nation. Vision- Players on several National former NBA stars Robert Horry lifestyles. Never mind the heavi- and neither is Ali. But we are aries and prophets aren’t always Football League teams, now in and Chris Webber and New York ness you feel over Ahmaud, amid a generation of young appreciated in their times. training camp, voted to not Mets first baseman Dominic Breonna, Georgeand Jacob, go athletes whowant to change Sometimes it’s not until they’re practice. Smith,who publicly got emo- out there and entertain us. their nation for the better. dead, silent and less threatening We are in an era of unprece- tional last week speaking about Presidential son-in-law Jared They’re not doing it through that they become popular, easy dented social and political con- their experiences. Kushner, a man born and mar- rioting, vandalism or crossing to embrace and hailed as heroes sciousness amongathletes, The Bucks’ action came on ried into wealth, gave snarky state lines with an AR-15 to kill deserving of emulation. especially Black athletes who no the fourth anniversary of then- voice to the “just shut up and protesters. They’re doing it Until someone emulates longer will“just shut up and San Francisco 49ers quarter- dribble chorus” by saying: through nonviolence. them. dribble.” backColin Kaepernick kneeling “Look, I think that the NBA For those who disagree, what On Wednesday afternoon, Their awareness of the power for the first time during the players are very fortunate that would you have them do? Or do moved by the close-range shoot- they possess through celebrity, national anthem to protest the they have the financial position you want them to do nothing ing of a Black man seven times wealth, the profits they gener- killings of Black people by po- where they’re able to take a but play your games? in the back by a police officer in ate, and the platform they have, lice. Kaepernick and his sup- night off from work without Kenosha, Wis., the Milwaukee emboldens them to speak out porters repeatedly explained he having to have the consequenc- [email protected] More interesting down-ballot races in S. San Down-ballot races can get lost GLORIA PADILLA public office, but it looks as if Granado filed the lawsuit pro during a presidential election Commentary she will be around for at least se — the legal term for represent- year, but sometimes they create another four years regardless. ing herself — because she felt the interesting political intrigue, In the South San Place 7 race, public needed to be made aware especially in the South San Anto- it also looks like four more years of what happened. nio Independent School District. for Stacey Estrada Alderete, “I understand that a judge’s Longtime school board mem- another poorly performing intervention in time to be placed ber Connie Prado, who is un- board member, after her oppo- on the ballot is a complete long opposed in her bid for re-elec- nent’s application for candidacy shot. However, I decided to tion for Place 5 on the South San was rejected by the district un- Carlos Javier Sanchez / Contributor move forward with filing on a board, is also seeking a seat as der highly unusual circumstanc- South San ISD trustee Connie matter of principle and to have an Alamo Community College ly occurring in May and one es.A court case is pending. Prado has managed to get on documentation through the District trustee on the same normally occurring in Novem- Alderete lost a bid for re- the November ballot twice. court system,” Granado said. ballot. ber) will not be removed from election after serving a term that It’s troubling a school board In another South San race, a the ballot because they are sep- expired in 2016, but was appoint- written notice of the reason for candidate would be disqualified candidate who filed against arate elections that do not nor- ed to a vacancy on the board last the rejection.” over something that could have appointed incumbent Stacey mally occur on the same date.” year. The school district is not tak- been easily fixed. Local political Estrada Aldereteis seeking relief That leaves Prado, 71, in a Lauren Granado, 30, an em- ing any responsibility for the consultant Laura Barberena said from the courts after she was crowded field of four to replace ployee of the Alamo Colleges’ error. many governmental entities disqualified from running. She Alamo Colleges District 4 Trust- communications department, The official response from the provide candidates free notary submitted her application for ee Marcelo Casillas, who chose filed for the Place 7 seat elec- district states: "Mrs. Granado services because it can be hard candidacy early, but the district not to seek re-election. If Prado tronically July 31, weeks before turned in her paperwork during to find a notary these days. did not inform her until after the wins, she will choose which seat the Aug. 17 filing deadline. the filing, however her applica- That this would happen in filing deadline, more than two to keep.A six-year term on a She did not learn until after tion was incomplete. As per the South San is not surprising. weeks later, that her application countywide board where her the deadline passed that her Office of the Secretary of State, if Operations have been less than for candidacy was incomplete. power will be diluted, or a four- application was incomplete that application is not notarized transparent in the past year First, the story on Prado. year term on a smaller board because it had not been notariz- or otherwise sworn before an- since a superintendent was Call it a COVID-19 anomaly where she can, and has, wreak- ed as required by law. Granado other person who is authorized forced out and three board prompted by the rescheduling of ed a tremendous amount of acknowledges the mistake, but to administer oaths, then that members resigned in protest. Alamo Colleges District’s May havoc? believes the school district failed application does not meet the The district recently hired a new election. The college district Prado has served on the South by not notifying her of the error requirements of Election Code superintendent. ended up on the November San board since 1998 and has in a timely manner.