Professional Athletes Use Their Platform To Call For Change

The shooting of Jacob Blake has sparked a historic week in sports with professional athletes using their platforms to call attention to police brutality, disrupting their respective leagues in the process.

The Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their playoff game against the Orlando Magic Wednesday, and the rest of the league did the same. Various MLB games have been postponed as baseball players followed the lead of the NBA. The NFL season doesn’t start for another two weeks, but nine teams canceled practice Thursday.

The NHL postponed playoff games and MLS players joined in on the boycott. Tennis star Naomi Osaka pushed her semifinals match in Western & Southern Open semifinals by one day.

“If you’re not trying to lead this world, lead this earth with making a positive impact, what are you here for?” Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. said, via The Associated Press. “Whether it’s sports that gives you the platform, whether it’s music, entertainment, whatever it is. If you have a voice, I think if you’re contributing to something that is going to help, something that is positive, I think you should use it.”

Fox News host Laura Ingraham made headlines two years ago when she told NBA superstar LeBron James to “shut up and dribble” after he criticized President Donald Trump. James and other NBA players have done anything but that, and the results likely mean they’ll continue to use their sport to promote social justice.

The Astros and A's, all wearing No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, put a Black Lives Matter T-shirt on home plate and took a 42-second moment of silence.

Both teams have exited the field and the game has been postponed. pic.twitter.com/abSm4ZHuuE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 29, 2020

Statement from the Baltimore Ravens: pic.twitter.com/Q8kOzQ8qAZ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 27, 2020

Change doesn’t happen with just talk!! It happens with action and needs to happen NOW! For my @IPROMISESchool kids, kids and communities across the country, it’s on US to make a difference. Together. That's why your vote is @morethanavote ✊_ #BlackLivesMatter
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 27, 2020

In early August, NBA owners committed to donating $300 million over the course of 10 years to a charity advocating for civil rights. Before officially agreeing to end their boycott, players got every team owner that owns their home arena to convert it into a voting site for the 2020 presidential election.

James and Chris Paul led a group of players who reached out to former President Barack Obama, seeking advice regarding whether to keep playing.

“We understand how strong our voice is, how powerful our voice is and ultimately we decided if we go away from this stage we don’t necessarily have that same platform so we stood in solidarity,” said Paul.

As the NBA moves closer toward crowning a champion and the NFL gets ready to start its season, expect players to be even more vocal in their calls for social justice.