The Milwaukee Bucks stood in complete unity as they addressed the media following their decision not to play in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Magic.
In wake of countless reactions around the internet from fans, other players, and media members, the Bucks net and gathered as a team to release their statement:
“The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African American community. Citizens around the country have used their voices and their platforms to speak out against these wrongdoings. Over the last few days, in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha and the additional shooting of protesters. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action. So, our focus today cannot be on basketball.
When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort, and hold each other accountable. We hold ourselves to this standard and in this moment, we are demanding the same from lawmakers and law enforcers. We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officer be held accountable. For this to occur, it is imperative for the Wisconsin state legislature to reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality, and criminal justice reform.”
The Milwaukee Bucks statement: pic.twitter.com/F7XOPs4NqE
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 26, 2020
Judging from the statement, we shouldn’t expect to see these guys take the court again until justice is brought to Jacob Blake and his family.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team did call the attorney general and governor, though the details of the conversation have not yet been revealed.
No matter your opinion on the boycotts, it is undeniable that there are serious issues going on in our country right now. So long as the players are willing to sacrifice their own resources to promote the necessary change, it’s hard to blame them for taking a stand.
