Montgomery also recommended the 2 might have a discussion about the topic.
Loeffler said she will not give up her ownership stake in the Dream despite players and the union calling on her to do so.
” Its not that youre tone deaf to the cry for justice, but you seemingly oppose it. And you are speaking from a position of immense impact as a team co-owner in our league and as a U.S. Senator.”
I need somebody to inform me, You, Renee, matter. ”
Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery has actually dominated the basketball court both in the WNBA and prior to that at the University of Connecticut. But last month, Montgomery decided there was a larger battle to be contested, so she made the choice to choose out of the 2020 WNBA season in order to focus on racial and social justice.
Little did she know her very first major fight would put her on the opposite side of her own group owner.
Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler, who is also a Republican Senator from Georgia, made waves Tuesday when she sent out a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert prompting the league to put American flags on the jerseys for the leagues restart rather than the planned anti-racism messages ” Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name” (a referral to the current killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville).
That triggered a rebuke from the WNBA Players Association, who tweeted in action to Loeffler: ” E-N-O-U-G-H! O-U-T!”
Montgomery, who won WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017 before signing a multiyear contract with Atlanta in 2018, also shared her disappointment with Loeffler on Tuesday. She tweeted, “Im pretty sad to see that my group ownership is not supportive of the movement & & all that it represents.” Montgomery also recommended the two might have a discussion about the subject.
Loeffler doubled down on her stance throughout an interview with Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night, informing the Fox News host that Black Lives Matter “is based upon Marxist principles” that threatens to “damage” America. The Senator also called the BLM group “anti-Semitic and does not support the nuclear family.” Loeffler said she will not quit her ownership stake in the Dream in spite of gamers and the union calling on her to do so.
And so Friday, after receiving no reaction to her invitation for a conversation, Montgomery penned a letter to Loeffler in Medium.
” Your remarks injure deeply since it was a veiled All Lives Matter response,” Montgomery wrote. ” Its not that youre tone deaf to the cry for justice, however you apparently oppose it. And you are speaking from a position of enormous influence as a group co-owner in our league and as a U.S. Senator.”
After making analogies to murdered civil rights activist Medgar Evers and Australian Aborigines, Montgomery then attempted to attract Loeffler on an individual level.
” Imagine your buddy overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down her cheeks, confiding in you that she has breast cancer. How great of a pal would you be if you crossed your arms and replied, All cancers matter?
” This year, I dont require more good friends who inform me, Everyone matters. I already understand that. I need somebody to tell me, You, Renee, matter. ”
VIEWPOINT: Senators vital of social justice efforts should stay with politics
Loeffler faces a tough re-election contest in November, and Montgomery said she comprehended the Senators attempts to appeal to her base, but she took affront to Loefflers persistence that sports should not join politics.
” I kindly invite you to reassess your position and join a conversation with me,” Montgomery concluded. ” While you might extremely well be on the right side of this Novembers elections, you are on the wrong side of history if you cant see that Black Lives Matter.”
You can read Montgomerys letter in complete here.
