There usually comes a time when actions are stronger than words. The Milwaukee Bucks subscribed to that thought on Wednesday afternoon when they failed to take the court for their game five playoff match-up with the Orlando Magic inside the NBA bubble near Orlando.
While the Magic was on the court warming up and the referee’s courtside, when the clock struck zero, the Bucks were nowhere to be found. They were in their locker room, with no intention of coming out anytime soon. Instead, they had decided not to play in light of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police on Sunday.
The Bucks, while in the locker room, were reportedly on a conference call with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes.
When the players eventually emerged, they issued a statement:
“The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African American communities. Citizens around the country have used their voices and 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. [Read more…]