From a Knee to a Strike: NBA players lead a movement
You might think that the Republican National Convention clouded the week for those of us who support Joe Biden. But despite the showmanship, the lies, and the flouting of the law, you could find good news elsewhere if you looked for it. The highlight for me?
The NBA players’ strike on Wednesday.
In response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play basketball. They were followed in protest by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Portland Trail Blazers. Other athletes also stood up: Major League Baseball canceled games, and the WNBA and Major League Soccer suspended events.
Why does this matter? After all, by Friday NBA players had agreed to return to the court.
Three reasons:
The players secured concessions from coaches and league officials: a plan to convert some arenas into polling sites, an agreement to run ads promoting voting rights and accessibility, and a commitment to a new social justice coalition designed to tackle issues of inequality.
The players acted together, reminding us of the power of collective protest. With Republican legislatures having weakened unions over the last several years, athletes have become a new force. Moreover, the ripple effect that occurred from one sport to another compounded their impact, making clearer their protest against racial injustice.
The players commanded our attention amidst other events including Hurricane Laura, the 2020 March on Washington, and the RNC convention. They did so, I believe, because sports is arguably our biggest pastime. Whether it’s basketball or tennis or football, US athletes are national figures, more vocal than they were before.
By taking a knee four years ago, Colin Kaepernick initiated the movement we see today.
