The WNBA issued a declaration Tuesday saying, “The WNBA is based on the principle of fair and equal treatment of all people and we, together with the teams and gamers, will continue to utilize our platforms to strongly promote for social justice. Sen. Kelly Loeffler has not served as a Governor of the Atlanta Dream given that October 2019 and is no longer associated with the day-to-day service of the team.”
She informed Engelbert that she was “exceptionally dissatisfied to check out about efforts to place a political platform into the league,” including, “The reality is, we need less– not more politics in sports. In a time when polarizing politics is as divisive as ever, sports has the power to be a unifying antidote. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire” Though I was not consulted about– nor do I concur with the Leagues choice in this matter, I am proposing a common-sense suggestion to guarantee we reflect the worths of liberty and equality for all,” she composed. “I believe we ought to put an American flag on every jersey. New York Liberty player Layshia Clarendon, who utilized to play for the Dream, tweeted, “I cant think I ever stepped foot in Kellys house and shared a meal with her.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, has composed WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to express her opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement and ask the league to put an American flag on every jersey when play resumes later on this month.
Loeffler was reacting to the WNBAs having actually approved displaying “Black Lives Matter” plainly on courts at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where the league will hold its season. The WNBA and its union likewise accepted honor women such as Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor and Vanessa Guillen, who have died in connection with cops action or alleged racial violence.
Loeffler, a staunch advocate of President Donald Trump, composed, “I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political motion, which has promoted for the defunding of cops, required the removal of Jesus from churches and the disturbance of the extended family structure, harbored anti-Semitic views, and promoted violence and destruction across the country. I believe it is totally misaligned with the worths and goals of the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream, where we support tolerance and addition.”
She informed Engelbert that she was “exceptionally disappointed to read about efforts to insert a political platform into the league,” adding, “The fact is, we need less– not more politics in sports. In a time when polarizing politics is as dissentious as ever, sports has the power to be a unifying antidote. And now more than ever, we need to be united in our objective to remove politics from sports.”
In the letter, Loeffler said that she believes including the American flag to jerseys and certified clothing would be a “sensible” service.
Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler (right), who co-owns the Atlanta Dream, composed that she “adamantly” opposes the Black Lives Matter motion and desires the WNBA to put the American flag on players jerseys. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire” Though I was not consulted about– nor do I agree with the Leagues choice in this matter, I am proposing a common-sense suggestion to guarantee we show the worths of flexibility and equality for all,” she wrote. “I think we must put an American flag on every jersey. Include it in our licensed apparel for coaches, fans and players.”
A number of existing and former WNBA players, consisting of Sheryl Swoopes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark and Sue Bird, have actually asked Engelbert to remove Loeffler as co-owner of the Dream. Swoopes tweeted that the “WNBA MUST do much better.”
New York Liberty gamer Layshia Clarendon, who utilized to bet the Dream, tweeted, “I cant think I ever stepped foot in Kellys home and shared a meal with her. Its in fact really painful to see her real colors I had no idea while I played for ATL she felt by doing this. Happy to own us as long as we stay peaceful and perform.”
Clarendon informed ABC News Live on Tuesday: “Thats what we see so frequently with sports, with culture, with music is that youre OK with Black people as long as they type of remain in their location or theyre performing or theyre sports stars.
” So now that were type of taking our power back and requesting for, you know, better putting in communities, were asking for more resources to be poured in, I think it is uncomfortable. You understand, its truly unfortunate to see … like, as mad as I am, Im really injured because, especially for a lady to do that as well, just kind of cuts the knife in a bit deeper, and for sure, for her to be so divisive, I think its actually difficult, and as a Black lady, as a queer woman playing in sports, you know, my presence is political like sport is, therefore I believe it was amusing to ask the flag also.”
E-N-O-U-G-H!
O-U-T! https://t.co/XgIS2vRb2X— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) July 7, 2020
