Due to the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds decided to postpone their game. The Brewers met after the NBA team Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play and came to the same decision. Consequently, the Mariners decided to follow the Brewers lead, and cancel their game in San Diego, against the Padres. Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants will not play their game for the same reason.
The MLB didn’t hesitate to respect the team’s decisions and released a statement after the postponement of the three games.
The Bucks, who were the first sports team to boycott their game, released a statement to the media as they all gathered in black t-shirts or shirts with social justice statements on them. Their choice started a chain reaction across the NBA, WNBA, MLS, and MLB.
The Teams Statements
Christian Yelich, of the Brewers, explained his reasoning to boycott the game tonight.
Craig Counsell, the Manager for the Brewers told the media “our players did a courageous thing in Major League Baseball. They went first. I’m proud of them for that.”
As a result of the postponement of the Brewers, Cincinnati Reds game, the other four teams announced their choice on social media, and players talked with the press.
The Dodgers and Giants, who have one of the biggest rivalries in MLB history, came together to release a statement on their decision not to play.
Also, the Mariners released a video of their players talking about social injustices, and understanding them on a deeper level.
Finally, the host of the Mariners game, the Padres released their statement, respecting the Mariner’s decision to boycott the game.
For more context, on August 23rd, a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin shot a man named Jacob Blake in the back, seven times, leaving him fighting for his life.
Fortunately, Blake miraculously survived but has learned he may never walk again. His family said, “it may take a miracle [for him to walk again].”
The NBA, MLB, MLS, and WNBA have backed the athlete’s choices to not play. Hopefully, their peaceful protest brings light to the situation and helps arrest the officers who shot Blake.
