Professional athletes protest police shooting of Jacob Blake

Ahead of Thursday’s scheduled game between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins at Citi Field in New York, the players for both teams left the field after observing a 42-second moment of silence. 

MLB is scheduled to observe Jackie Robinson Day on Friday to honor the color-barrier-breaking Hall of Famer, who wore number 42.

The Mets starting defense took the field as scheduled, then the remaining players for both teams came out of their dugouts and a moment of silence was observed. Afterwards all players left the field.

Miami Marlins player Lewis Brinson laid a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt over home plate before leaving the field.

It was later announced that the Marlins–Mets game was the seventh MLB game to be postponed on Thursday.

The Baltimore Ravens is calling for social change and are demanding accountability in light of recent incidents of police violence.

The team laid out specific action points in a statement on Thursday, including a call for the police officers “responsible for Breonna Taylor’s killing and the shooting of Jacob Blake” to be arrested and charged.

The team’s statement said it will use the franchise’s platform to unite and enact positive change.  

“This is bigger than sports. Racism is embedded in the fabric of our nation’s foundation and is a blemish on our country’s history. If we are to change course and make our world a better place, we must face this problem head-on and act now to enact positive change,” the statement said.

The team also called for requiring body cameras, banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants and establishing “a framework to prohibit racial profiling at federal, state, and local levels,” according to the statement.

The Baltimore Orioles will not play against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight after Orioles players decided to join other athletes in solidarity against social injustice and systemic racism, the team has announced.

The Orioles–Rays game is the sixth Major League Baseball game postponed tonight.

The Orioles full team statement reads:

“After continued reflection and further dialogue, Orioles players have decided to not play tonight’s game against the Rays as they join athletes around the country in expressing solidarity with victims of social injustice and systemic racism.”

 The Tampa Bay Rays then issued the following statement:

“Like the Orioles, our team struggled with the decision of whether to play this evening. The decision was made not to play, and we stand firmly with all those fighting for social justice and to end systemic racism.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is sending two National Guard companies to Wisconsin to support public safety.

“Michigan’s dedicated National Guardsmen and women have played a vital role to keep Michiganders safe in recent months during the pandemic, and they were a key factor in ensuring peaceful protests in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor earlier this summer,” Whitmer said in a statement released by her office Thursday evening.

The 17-year-old boy accused of shooting people in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a protest this week now faces five felony charges.

Kyle Rittenhouse is charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of first-degree reckless homicide, according to a court document filed Thursday in Kenosha County. The shootings killed two people.

Rittenhouse also is charged with a count of attempted intentional homicide and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. Additionally, he faces a misdemeanor charge of being in possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18.

Rittenhouse turned himself in to police in Antioch, Illinois, on Wednesday.

Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer has been handcuffed to his hospital bed, his uncle tells CNN.

The 29-year-old’s father, Jacob Blake Sr., visited him in the hospital where he is recovering from his injuries and saw that his son had been handcuffed to his bed, Jacob Blake’s uncle, Justin Blake, said.

Jacob Blake Sr. held his son’s hand during the hospital visit and was “heartbroken that his son is handcuffed to his bed,” Justin Blake told CNN.

The news was first reported Thursday by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Representatives for Jacob Blake, the Kenosha Police Department, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kenosha District Attorney’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Froedtert Hospital, where Blake is being treated, deferred questions to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang tweeted Thursday that he spoke with Jacob Blake’s father.

Blake’s father told the businessman that his son has restraints on and questioned why he was shot so many times, Yang said.

“I just spoke to #JacobBlake Sr. – his son is conscious. His first question after he woke up was ‘Daddy, why did they shoot me so many times?’ He wept to his father. He has restraints on even though he can’t move his legs,” Yang tweeted.

“When asked what message I could share on his family’s behalf, #JacobBlake Sr. said to me, ‘Tell them my son is a human being,’” Yang added.

Yang also shared a GoFundMe link for people to donate to Jacob Blake’s family.

The Colorado Rockies will not play the Arizona Diamondbacks as scheduled Thursday night after Rockies players decided to stand “in solidarity with athletes and sports teams against social injustice” and not take the field. 

The Rockies-Diamondbacks postponed game is the fifth MLB game called off Thursday night.

“After reflecting and meeting as a group, Rockies players have decided not to play today’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, standing in solidarity with athletes and sports teams against social injustice,” the Rockies statement said.

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said in a news conference Thursday that he and Gov. Tony Evers spoke with Jacob Blake’s family. 

“Today, Gov. Evers and I had a moment to speak with Jacob Blake’s family,” Barnes said. 

They also met with some local elected officials and visited a couple of businesses in Kenosha, according to Barnes. 

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is sending more than 150 members of the Arizona National Guard to Wisconsin.

“In the United States, we hold sacred the First Amendment rights of citizens to protest and assemble peacefully, as well as the safety and security of all of our citizens,” Ducey said. “Over the summer, the Arizona National Guard provided effective support to state and local law enforcement keeping the peace in Arizona communities.

“We support public safety, everywhere — and we stand ready to support Wisconsin now in their time of need,” the governor added.

Today’s game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays has been postponed – the fourth game so far for the day to be postponed.

Here is the joint statement from both teams: 

“The continued police brutality and social inequity demand immediate attention and focus from all of us – not only Black Americans and Canadians. We fully respect the decision of our players to bring further awareness to the systemic racism that contributes to police violence against Black, Indigenous and people of color in our communities. We look forward to getting back on the field, and using our strongest platform, our game, to amplify our message demanding meaningful change.” 

Other MLB games postponed Thursday are: A’s-Rangers, Phillies-Nationals and Twins-Tigers.

The National Hockey League has announced that the next four scheduled playoff games have been postponed in wake of the Jacob Blake shooting Sunday by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The decision effects each of the eight teams remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Tonight’s Flyers vs. Islanders and Golden Knights vs. Canucks games are off as well as Friday night’s Lightning vs. Bruins and Avalanche vs. Stars games.

Earlier Thursday, San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane, who is co-head of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, tweeted that the alliance had formally requested the NHL to suspend Thursday’s games.

“We strongly feel this sends a clear message that human rights take priority over sports,” Kane tweeted.

In the NHL’s statement Thursday, the league said, “After much discussion, NHL Players believe that the best course of action would be to take a step back and not play tonight’s and tomorrow’s games as scheduled.”

“Black and brown communities continue to face real, painful experiences. The NHL and [player’s union] recognize that much work remains to be done before we can play an appropriate role in a discussion centered on diversity, inclusion and social justice,” the league said.

The Oakland A’s players have announced they will not take the field on Thursday night for their game against the Texas Rangers in hopes of raising awareness on social issues following the shooting of Jacob Blake. 

In a statement, the players announced, “We will not take the field tonight to help raise awareness for these social issues, not just tonight, but for our collective future. This is the first step in our relentless pursuit for meaningful change.”

The team said this is the first step in a “relentless pursuit for meaningful change.”

The Rangers responded to the A’s decision saying in a statement, “We respect the decision by the Oakland A’s players to postpone tonight’s game. We stand with all those who condemn racial injustice and are committed to helping bring about an end to systemic racism.”

The postponement of the A’s-Rangers game is one of three MLB games called off Thursday night. The Philadelphia Phillies-Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins-Detroit Tigers games were also postponed.

Read the full statement:

The NFL and NFL Players Association have released a joint statement Thursday regarding the shooting of Jacob Blake, saying both organizations share in the “anger and frustration” the country is feeling.

“While our passions continue to run high, we are proud that our players and clubs, league and union, are taking time to have the difficult conversations about these issues that affect the Black community and other communities of color in America,” the statement said. “We are especially encouraged that these conversations are about how we can come together to make the necessary and long overdue changes In our country.”

Elizabeth Williams, an Atlanta Dream all-star and the secretary of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, said it was important for the WNBA to stand in solidarity after the shooting of Jacob Blake.

“After seeing Bucks decision and what our NBA counterparts had done, we thought it was important to stand in solidarity with them and to not play the games yesterday and today,” she told CNN on Thursday.

Some background: The Bucks game against the Orlando Magic was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, but the team did not come out their locker room before the scheduled tip.

Within hours, three WNBA, five Major League Soccer and three Major League Baseball games were called off as athletes acted in solidarity with the Bucks’ players.

Williams said professional athletes, specifically those in the NBA and WNBA, always knew they had an opportunity to speak out and get attention for social issues.

“I think from the beginning, our decision to play this season in the bubble, our focus was on social justice. We thought, especially for WNBA, we were in a unique position having so many televised games that we would be able to show our activism,” Williams said.

Williams said moving forward the goal is to make policy changes on the local level, not just nationally.

“Those are ways people start to see big changes,” she said.

As a statement from the Milwaukee Bucks’ players calls for justice for Jacob Blake and demands that officers be held accountable, The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill says she thinks the team is sending a message to America:

Sports players have been trying to draw attention to social issues like police violence for a long time now, she told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“The reality is that the players have been trying to sort of sweet-talk America into caring about this issue. I mean, they’ve worn t-shirts. You see that their court is painted with Black Lives Matter,” she said. “And for them, the reward was seeing what happened with Jacob Blake.”

“So it just doesn’t feel like they were getting anywhere. They’re frustrated, they’re angry. I can’t blame them for feeling the way that they do. Most Black people in America feel that way,” she added.

“Finally, I think they reached their boiling point,” Hill said.

The boycott from the Bucks also came exactly four years after San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick sat for the national anthem and protested against police brutality and racial inequality. He was ostracized for his actions and hasn’t played in any football seasons since.

However, this time, professional athletes across the country are standing in solidarity and protesting. The NBA announced it would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff series because of the boycotts. Three WNBA, five Major League Soccer and three Major League Baseball games have also been called off.

“Colin Kaepernick gave them a particular blueprint, in which they saw that meaningful change or at least some very serious and uncomfortable conversations could come from just a gesture. And they sort of added their own emphasis to what Colin Kaepernick did,” Hill said.

However, she pointed to Milwaukee Bucks’ Sterling Brown’s own history with police violence. Brown sued the Milwaukee police over use of excessive force during an encounter, saying he was tased.

“They nearly broke one of his limbs after an encounter over him parking his car across two handicap spaces outside of a Walgreens. So this issue wasn’t just about Colin Kaepernick,” she said. “This is about these players having very personal experiences with police violence.”

The Minnesota Twins players have decided to not play against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.

The team said it stands behind the players’ decision and refers to the killing of George Floyd along with the shooting of Jacob Blake as to reasons why the team remains “committed to using our platforms to push for racial justice and equality.”

The postponement of the Twins-Tigers game is one of three MLB games called off Thursday night. The Oakland A’s-Texas Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies-Washington Nationals were also postponed.  

Read the Twins full statement: 

“The Minnesota Twins remain committed to using our platforms to push for racial justice and equality. Therefore, we fully respect our players for their decision to not play tonight’s game versus the Detroit Tigers.
The recent shooting of Jacob Blake, a mere three months after the killing of George Floyd, shows again that real change is necessary and far overdue in our country, and it is our responsibility to continue playing a role in efforts to affect meaningful reform.
We stand in solidarity with the Black community and, as full partners with others in the Twin Cities and beyond, we are committed to creating the change we want to see in the world – where everyone is protected, safe and welcome. There is no place for racism, inequality or injustice in our society.”

The Tennessee Titans are one of many NFL teams who decided to cancel Thursday practice to focus on concerns surrounding a lack of action to fix systemic racism and social injustice.  

After the meeting, the team appeared en masse to create a post for Twitter, with safety Kevin Byard and quarterback Ryan Tannehill as the speakers. 

“We had a lot of constructive conversations,” Byard says in the video. “But as we went to our team meeting, and as with the entire team, we felt as players and as an entire organization, that it was right to not practice today.”

“We decided that it is time to take a stand today,” he continued. “And we feel that with this moment, right here, today, with my brother Ryan standing next to me, and all my brothers standing behind me, we wanted to show solidarity and be unified.”

Byard closed his remarks by saying, “I have a one-year-old daughter, and I have no clue what I’m going to tell them what kind of world they’re going to grow up in in this country. And I’m begging and pleading…spilling my heart out to say that we need change, and we need change as soon as possible.” 

Tannehill said he and his teammates are sick of the systemic racism and oppression: “We’re tired of dealing with excessive force. We’re tired of seeing Black men and women die in situations where they should be walking home and spending the night with their families.” 

Watch the video:

The Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals have released a joint statement saying that players from both teams decided to not play their scheduled game on Thursday.

“The Phillies and Nationals players have collectively decided to postpone tonight’s game,” the statement said. 

“We support their decision to use their platform to call attention to the racial and social injustice that continues to exist in our country. We will continue to stand behind our players and those on the front lines working to generate accountability and real change in our society.”

Real Salt Lake soccer club owner Dell Loy Hansen said he felt disrespected by his players after they decided to not play their scheduled game Wednesday night game against Los Angeles FC.

Speaking on the Salt Lake City radio show “Radio From Hell” on Thursday, Hansen said, “It’s like someone stabbed you and then you’re trying to figure out a way to pull the knife out and move forward. That’s what it feels like. The disrespect was profound to me personally.”

Hansen said he was particularly disappointed after so much effort was made to prepare Rio Tino Stadium for spectators to finally attend a home game. 

Major League Soccer postponed five matches on Wednesday once it became clear players from the ten teams would not take the field following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday. 

Hansen has gotten criticism for his comments including a tweet from MLS star Jozy Altidore, who wrote, “He needs to sell the team then. I’m involved in a group that’s ready to purchase it. Time for change.”

The Chicago Bears have released a statement Thursday saying that the organization decided to pause football activities “to voice to each other, our coaches and our staff where we stand on the real issues around race and police brutality in our country.”

Read the team’s full statement:

“In the wake of what has taken place in our backyard of Kenosha over the last couple of days, we as a team have a lot on our mind today. We decided to pause our football activities to voice to each other, our coaches and our staff where we stand on the real issues around race and police brutality in our country.
“We had a productive discussion, but we all agreed that talks and discussions are simply not enough anymore and we need action. We are putting in plans to take action in our communities and together we believe we can make a real difference. We need action not only today, but in the days to come.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is calling for the resignation of Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis and Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth citing a “failed response” to the shooting of Jacob Blake, according to a statement from the organization.

The civil rights organization criticized Miskinis for statements he made at yesterday’s press conference.

The police chief “blamed the unidentified victims in Tuesday night’s shooting for their own deaths, saying the violence was the result of the ‘persons’ involved violating curfew,” the statement said.

The ACLU said Beth’s “deputies not only fraternized with white supremacist counter-protesters on Tuesday, but allowed the shooter to leave as people yelled that he was the shooter.”

The organization also pointed to the sheriff’s 2018 remarks in which he called for criminals to be placed in warehouses in a press conference on five people of color who had been arrested for shoplifting. 

“We have to get to the point that we no longer will put up with the garbage people that fill our communities – they are a cancer to our society,” Beth said at the press conference provided to CNN by WTMJ.

Beth issued a letter of apology for the comments several days after that press conference in 2018.

“The ACLU strongly condemns Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Miskinis’ response to both the attempted murder of Jacob Blake and the protests demanding justice for him,” Chris Ott, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, said in the statement.

“Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their first amendment rights and speaking out against police violence,” Ott added.

CNN reached out to both departments for a comment but did not immediately hear back. 

The ACLU’s statement calls on Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian to “demand the police chief’s removal with the Kenosha Police and Fire Commission and the sheriff’s removal with Gov. Tony Evers” if the pair refuse to resign.

Kenosha Police Chief Dan Miskinis said at a news conference Thursday, “I have no additional information to share regarding the shooting deaths of those persons from the night before, but rest assured, those investigations continue. And we will build a strong case, based upon the facts.”

“We continue to investigate the previous looting and arson cases that took place on Sunday night and early in the morning,” he said adding, “we hope to bring those involved to justice through the court system.”

The police chief said the “situation is much calmer” and that people are “lawfully protesting.”

“Last night was very peaceful. Tuesday night, not quite so peaceful but it wasn’t too bad. Monday night was our big night. Hopefully we are over that hump of what we have to face,” Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said.

Major General Paul Knapp from the Wisconsin National Guard spoke about the presence of National Guard members, saying, “We have commitments from 3 other states, Arizona, Alabama, Michigan will be sending some of their National Guard members here to assist in this effort.

No questions from the media were taken at the press conference.

Watch:

Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris called for an end to police shootings in the US and encouraged Americans to continue to protest against this violence.

Harris, a senator from California, called the sight of Jacob Blake being shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, “sickening to watch,” she said during a news conference today in Washington, DC.

“As Vice President Biden put it, the shots fired at Mr. Blake pierced the soul of our nation. It’s sickening to watch. It’s all too familiar. And it must end,” Harris said. “Thankfully he is alive today, but he is fighting for his life and he shouldn’t have to be. My heart goes out to the Blake family as they endure an ordeal that is tragically common in our country. Joe and I spoke with them yesterday. They are an amazing group of people with extraordinary courage.”

Harris said Americans have every right to be “angry and exhausted” over the deadly actions taken by police around the US.

“And after the murders of Breonna [Taylor] and George [Floyd] and Ahmaud [Arbery] and so many others, it’s no wonder people are taking to the streets. And I support them,” she said.

Watch:

President Trump Thursday called the National Basketball Association a “political organization” and slammed the league for its “very bad” ratings when asked about Thursday’s historic protests against racial injustice.

“I don’t know much about the NBA protests. I know their ratings have been very bad because I think people are a little tired of the NBA, frankly,” Trump told reporters while getting a hurricane briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“But I don’t know too much about the protests but I know their ratings have been very bad. And that’s unfortunate. They’ve become like a political organization and that’s not a good thing. I don’t think that’s a good thing for sports or for the country,” Trump added.

Some background: On Wednesday, three NBA playoff games were postponed after the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to take the floor against the Orlando Magic as players took a stand with their Bucks counterparts. Three WNBA, five Major League Soccer and three Major League Baseball games were also postponed.

Trump also praised the work of the National Guard in Wisconsin saying he appreciated Gov. Tony Evers for asking for the National Guard and claimed last night’s protests were “very quiet” because of the unit.  

“I can tell you that Wisconsin —I appreciate the Governor calling and saying he wanted national guard. As you know last night was very quiet, the night before wasn’t and the reason it wasn’t- they didn’t’ have proper protection.”

Trump then continued to hammer democratic governors and mayors who have not called for the National Guard — primarily in Portland.

“We will put out the fire, we will put out the flame, we will put out the vandalism- because the vandalism and the looting is ridiculous to allow this to happen. I don’t know how they can possible do it and why they do it. I don’t understand,” Trump added.

President Trump would not say if he’s seen the video of Jacob Blake, a 29 year-old Black man, being shot several times by the police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

After Trump received a hurricane briefing at headquarters for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Thursday afternoon, he was asked if he’d seen the video.

One reporter asked the question at least two times, but the President did not answer.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Attorney General William Barr briefed Trump on the shooting on Monday.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has requested other states bring additional National Guard troops, and resources to Kenosha to support authorities there, according to a statement from the governor’s office.  

The governor made the request under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a mutual aid agreement that allows governors to provide state-to-state assistance during declared states of emergency, the statement said.

“National Guard troops from Arizona, Michigan and Alabama will add to Wisconsin National Guard troops already on the ground supporting civil authorities in Kenosha under the EMAC,” the statement said. 

National Guard troops mobilized from other states “would do so in a State Active Duty status – not in a federal status,” the statement said.

“Local officials are leading the response in Kenosha, and National Guard troops are serving in a support role to assist civil authorities in preserving public safety and individuals’ ability to exercise their First Amendment rights to assemble peaceably,” the statement said.

The NBA has postponed Thursday’s three scheduled playoff games.

The league issued a news release outlining a meeting later this afternoon to discuss next steps. The meeting will include players and management as well as NBA Labor Relations Committee Chairman Michael Jordan.

Here’s a statement from the NBA:

“NBA playoff games for today will not be played as scheduled. We are hopeful to resume games either Friday or Saturday. 
There is a video conference call meeting scheduled later this afternoon between a group of NBA players and team governors representing the 13 teams in Orlando, along with representatives from the National Basketball Players Association and the league office and NBA Labor Relations Committee Chairman Michael Jordan, to discuss next steps.”

The WNBA has postponed Thursday’s three scheduled games. 

Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBA Players Association and LA Sparks forward, appeared on ESPN Thursday to speak for the player’s decision to not play for a second straight night.

The WNBA also released a statement saying, “As the WNBA players continue discussions and reflection on recent events, the WNBA announced that the three games scheduled for this evening (Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever; Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty; Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm) have been postponed. Information regarding rescheduling of yesterday and today’s games will be provided when available.” 

A day after announcing on her Twitter account she would not play in the semifinals of the Women’s Tennis Association’s Western and Southern Open as a response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, tennis star Naomi Osaka has agreed to play. 

The two-time Grand Slam winner wrote in her Wednesday post, “Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach.” 

But in a statement released to the New York Times by the her management team on Thursday, the 22-year-old stated: “…after my announcement and lengthy consultation with the WTA and USTA, I have agreed at their request to play on Friday. They offered to postpone all matches until Friday and in my mind that brings more attention to the movement.” 

Osaka thanked the WTA and the tournament for their support.

A WTA spokesperson tells CNN that Osaka did not officially withdraw from the Western and Southern Open on Wednesday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a citywide curfew will go into effect on Thursday amid unrest in the city. 

The curfew will begin tonight at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. CT on Friday, Frey said at a briefing. 

“We will not tolerate deliberate and malicious destruction of our neighborhood and of our businesses,” said Frey. 

“It is righteous to vent that pain and anguish in the form of peaceful protest. But, what happened last night was neither peaceful nor was it a form of protest that effectively moves us forward. Every person in every neighborhood in our entire city deserves to feel safe. What transpired yesterday does not bring us closer to safety” Frey said. 

Former NBA player and sportscaster Len Elmore said that remarks from Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, about the professional athletes’ protests will serve as “a motivator.” 

Elmore said that boycotts can put pressure on owners and networks, which will in turn lead to pressure on state and federal politicians.

In an interview with CNBC, Kushner said, “The NBA players are very fortunate that they have the financial position where they’re able to take a night off from work without having to have the consequences to themselves financially.”

NBA players have decided to resume playing, according to multiple outlets.

Elmore also said that he’s most impressed with “the unity” among different professional sports teams across the NBA, WNBA, MLS and MLB. 

“Now, the question is, will it sustain? Go from a boycott to more of a demand of their owners and others to exercise their influence to help try to affect change?” he added.

Elmore said such movements can be a springboard for athletes to become leaders back in their communities. 

“I think it’s vitally important for them to make a decision as to whether or not they’re going to go back to their hometowns, go back to their communities, and to be able to lead,” he said. 

Watch:

Several NFL teams canceled practice Thursday to focus instead on conversations of social injustice in wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The Denver Broncos joined the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, the Washington football Team and New York Jets in forgoing practice to allow players to weigh in on what they and their respective teams can do to effect change.

After a practice earlier this week, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told the media, “It’s amazing to me that this is still happening. So, we wanted to get our guys’ perspective and try to float around some ideas on how we can make a difference and use our platform, because things have to change.”

In a Thursday statement, Washington head coach Ron Rivera said, “Friday we can return to football… In place of our practice at FedEx Field, the players, coaches and football staff will meet as a football family and we will continue our open dialogue on the issues of racism and social injustice in our country … We are all in this together. And as a team we will work to figure out ways that we can make a positive impact in our communities.” 

Following a Thursday players meeting within the isolated Disney campus in Orlando, NBA players have decided to resume playing, according to multiple outlets.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news. Wojnarowski also reports Thursday’s three playoff games will be postponed.

CNN has reached out to the league and the players union for confirmation and comment.

ESPN also reports that the season is expected to resume by the weekend and could be as early as Friday.  

Vice President Mike Pence is no longer invited to deliver a commencement address to the graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran College amid ongoing unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by police. 

The Vice President had been slated to give the address on Saturday, according to a press release issued by his office Monday. The Christian college in Milwaukee, less than an hour Northeast of Kenosha, cited “escalating events” as the reason a different speaker would be presented.

“After further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha, the WLC Board of Regents and the College’s Administration have jointly decided to present a different speaker instead of the Vice President of the United States, Michael R. Pence, at the Saturday, August 29, 2020, commencement,” the college said in a statement Thursday. 

A spokesman for Pence confirmed he would no longer be speaking.

“Vice President Pence understands and supports Wisconsin Lutheran College’s decision to prioritize the safety and well-being of their students, and wishes the students well as they celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from college and as they embark on their next journey,” Pence’s press secretary Devin O’Malley told CNN in a statement. 

A local pastor, Rev. Mark Jeske of St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, will deliver the speech in Pence’s stead. 

The decision comes amid some vocal opposition from alumni and current students who penned a letter earlier this week, updated last night, renouncing Pence’s participation and claims from the college that the event was not political.

“We are concerned about the college’s blatantly inappropriate decision to invite the vice president to speak for this monumental event for the Class of 2020. Not only is the invitation disrespectful, but also the remarks provided by the college fail to recognize the reality of the decision,” the group wrote in an open letter. 

It also comes as the Trump administration has failed to substantively address the shooting of Jacob Blake and the protests that have ensued in the Milwaukee suburb. 

In an interview with MSNBC, Marc Short, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, did not deny the possibility that Mike Pence may travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

When asked if the Vice President had reached out to Jacob Blake’s family, Short said there would be “additional outreach,” but declined to provide specifics. 

“At this point there’ll be additional outreach, Hallie, but I don’t think he’s spoken to them yet,” he said. 

When pressed by MSNBC host Hallie Jackson, Short said: “I think that there will be conversations happening but I’m not offering anything to you right now to make news on that point today.” 

And when asked if Pence may be traveling to Kenosha, Short said: “Perhaps, perhaps.” 

Short was also pressed on the Vice President’s speech at Fort McHenry last night.  

Asked why Pence’s speech did not mention Jacob Blake by name, Short said, “The violence must stop, that was a universal statement.”

Short added: “It is time for the violence for end. We respect and honor people who peacefully protest. We want to protect those rights always, but at the same time burning down churches, burning down buildings, burning down business is not peaceful protest and it must end.”

Trump campaign communication director Tim Murtaugh told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that he believes the President will address the police shooting of Jacob Blake tonight.

“I think he will. He’ll talk about what happened in Wisconsin and I think he’ll broaden it and talk with what we’ve seen in cities and states all around the country in the last couple of months,” he said.

The President is scheduled to speak tonight during the final night of the Republican National Convention.

WATCH:

Jared Kushner said he would reach out to basketball superstar LeBron James Thursday following protests for social justice in the NBA and other major sporting leagues.

Speaking to Politico, the President’s son-in-law reiterated comments he made to CNBC that NBA players have the “luxury” to take a night off to protest police brutality, but he’d like specific solutions beyond the symbolic gesture.

“We’re offering solutions with policy, the other side is doing a lot of complaining. What I’d love to see from the players in the NBA, again, they have the luxury of taking a night off from work. Most Americans don’t have the financial luxury to do that. I think that it’s nice they’re standing up for the issue, but I’d like to see them start moving into concrete solutions that are productive,” Kushner said.

He said the White House would be happy to talk with LeBron James, a social justice advocate who has funded charter schools, to discuss “what we want to accomplish” and a “common pathway.”

Asked if he had reached out to him, Kushner said, “I have not, and I will reach out to him today.”

On protests more broadly, Kushner said, “What we do need to do right now is make sure that we take the anger that people have and we have to move from slogans to constructive solutions,” touting criminal justice reform, work with opportunity zones, and the President’s support for historically Black colleges and universities.

When Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen.Kamala Harris speaks this afternoon to offer her prebuttal to Trump’s convention speech, she plans on addressing what is happening in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the aftermath of Jacob Blake’s shooting, a campaign aide told CNN Wednesday. 

Yesterday, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Harris spoke with Blake’s family, and Harris briefly discussed Kenosha at a virtual campaign event, describing what she said was “two systems of justice of America.”

Here’s what she said then:

“And also I just want to also mention what you mentioned Brenda about what’s going on in Wisconsin, as it’s just the most recent tragic example of what we also need to focus on around reforming the criminal justice system and policing in America.  Joe Biden and I earlier today spoke with Jacob Blake’s family, and his mother, his father, his sister. And what happened there is so tragic and still represents the two systems of justice in America, there are still two systems of justice in America and we, we need to fight again for that idea this says all people are supposed to be treated equally which is still not happening.”

Indianapolis Colts canceled today’s team practice in favor of a discussion on how the franchise can impact social change. 

The following is a statement from Colts via verified Twitter account:

“The Colts will not practice today. Instead, the team will use the day to discuss and work toward making a lasting social impact and inspiring change in out communities.” 

 See the tweet:

Nike, the official maker of the uniforms for the NBA and WNBA, told CNN in a statement Thursday it supports Wednesday night’s player boycotts in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Some context: Soon after the Milwaukee Bucks decided to not play, the NBA announced it would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff series. Within hours, three WNBA, five Major League Soccer and three Major League Baseball games were called off as athletes acted in solidarity with the Bucks’ players.

 “Nike stands in support of NBA and WNBA players and athletes across the sports community in their response to the senseless shooting of Jacob Blake. We remain committed to addressing the issue of systemic racism experienced by the Black community,” said the company in a statement. 

Nike was one of many companies that voiced support for the Black Lives Matter protests earlier this summer. In May, it reversed its iconic “Just Do It” slogan in an online video, saying, “For once, Don’t Do It.”

“Don’t pretend there’s not a problem in America,” the message read. “Don’t turn your back on racism. Don’t accept innocent lives being taken from us. Don’t make any more excuses. Don’t think this doesn’t affect you. Don’t sit back and be silent.”

Marc Short, the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, told CNN that protests from major sports leagues by athletes calling for social justice are “absurd and silly.”

Asked if Pence supports the NBA’s boycott, Short said this:

He went on criticize the NBA for its ties to China, but said he didn’t think the administration shouldn’t speak out on a boycott “one way or the other.” 

“If they wanna protest, I don’t think we care,” Short said.

President Trump has not commented on the latest wave of protests by sports stars, but has previously criticized players who spoke publicly against racism or police brutality.

Earlier this month, he said it was “not acceptable” for athletes to take a knee before games, a comment condemned by many professional players.

WATCH:

The PGA Tour put out a statement showing solidarity with the professional athletes from other leagues who protesting in the wake of the police killing of Jacob Blake.

The tour said in a statement it “supports them – and any of our own members – standing up for issues they believe in.”

Here’s the PGA Tour’s full statement:

“The MLB, MLS, NBA, WNBA and WTA protests are player-led, peaceful, powerful ways to use their respective platforms to bring about the urgent need for change in our country. There have been a number of efforts in the past to send a message that the current climate is unacceptable, and these teams, leagues and players now taking this step will help draw further attention to the issues that really matter. The PGA TOUR supports them – and any of our own members – standing up for issues they believe in.
The PGA TOUR made a pledge over the summer to be part of the solution, and we have been actively working to make deeper and more specific commitments to racial equity and inclusion in the communities where we play, as well as supporting national organizations within this movement that we had not previously engaged with. However, we understand that now is not the appropriate time to highlight our programs and policies, but rather to express our outrage at the injustice that remains prevalent in our country. 
Sports have always had the power to inspire and unify, and we remain hopeful that together, we will achieve change.”

Multiple sports leagues have postponed games after players decided not to play following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Here’s a look at what games have been postponed so far:

NBA: The league put games on hold deep into its playoff schedule after Milwaukee Bucks players decided not to take part in their Wednesday matchup.

WNBA: The three games set for Wednesday in the WNBA were also called off.

MLB: The protests reached the world of baseball too, with several players deciding not to take part in games on Wednesday. The MLB said it supported their decision in a statement on Wednesday night. The postponements included Milwaukee’s other major sports team, the Brewers, who were due to play the Reds.

MLS: Soccer was also postponed in the US on Wednesday, with several MLS players showing their solidarity with the Bucks online. The league’s Orlando-Nashville game kicked off on time at 7:30 p.m. ET, but all the games scheduled to start later were suspended:

Most leagues have more games scheduled for Thursday night, which are still set to take place.

Former President Barack Obama tweeted his support last night for the professional athletes boycotting games in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Here’s his full message:

Following the postponement of its opening series against the Portland Trail Blazers, players from the Los Angeles Lakers — as well as its city counterparts the Los Angeles Clippers — voted to boycott the rest of the 2019-20 NBA season, according to Shams Charania, of The Athletic and Stadium.

According to Elle Duncan of ESPN, NBA players boycotting a game has happened only once before. Almost 60 years ago, Hall of Famer Bill Russell and some of his Boston Celtic teammates sat out a game in 1961 in protest of racial injustice.

In a players’ meeting on Wednesday night, the LA teams were the only two NBA teams who voted to boycott the NBA season. Charania, who cited unnamed sources in his reporting, said all other NBA teams voted to continue playing.

The vote that was taken doesn’t appear to be binding. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who cited unnamed sources, it was more of a poll than a final vote, and that resuming the playoffs remains up in the air.

Read more here.

LA Lakers star and basketball legend LeBron James joined dozens of his fellow athletes in pledging solidarity with the players’ strikes and demanding an end to systemic racism.

James demanded change on Twitter on Wednesday evening, as the Bucks’ walkout led to a flood of similar strikes and the postponement of the NBA playoffs.

“It’s very troubling,” he added in a video tweeted out by the Lakers. “We play a beautiful game which brings so many great families together … but at the same time, never losing track of what’s really going on in our world.”

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green added on Thursday: “Making headlines is great. The attention has been grabbed. Now the next steps are more important now than ever.”

Denver Nuggets player Jamal Murray and Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell both echoed James’ tweet.

Retired Bucks star Pau Gasol expressed support for his team, writing: “Proud of my brothers” and sharing a quote from the late civil rights leader and US Congressman John Lewis.

And Phoenix Suns player Mikal Bridges added: “I swear its not that hard to understand that WE as human beings just want to be treated equal … and if u don’t understand that then im sorry for your ignorance.”

Professional sports games were canceled Wednesday after athletes across the country announced they wouldn’t play in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Here’s what we know so far about the shooting:

Protests have spread across the US sports scene, with several games canceled and entire leagues on hold as sporting stars take a stand against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday.

The NBA, WNBA, Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball have all scrapped games after the Milwaukee Bucks’ initial decision not to play on Wednesday.

And a host of superstars across American sports have made calls for change, as competition takes a backseat. “WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT,” LeBron James wrote.

What began as the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to boycott their playoff game following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in the team’s home state cascaded into a wave of similar protests across the American sports scene by Wednesday night.

Soon after the Wisconsin-based team decided to not play, the NBA announced it would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff series — Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers.

Within hours, three WNBA, five Major League Soccer and three Major League Baseball games were called off as athletes acted in solidarity with the Bucks’ players.

Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back by police on Sunday as he tried to enter his vehicle in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His shooting became the latest incident to prompt outrage nationwide over racial injustice and police brutality.

WATCH: NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas: ‘This is a very proud moment’