The Milwaukee Brewers will not play their Wednesday night game against the Reds at Miller Park in Milwaukee, joining the NBA's escalating player-led walkouts in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot seven times in nearby Kenosha, Wis.
Wall Street Journal reporter Jared Diamond first reported the Brewers' decision, as well as the Reds' choice not to play either. Cincinnati effectively rejected the Brewers' forfeit, making the two opponents the first MLB teams to join strikes rippling across the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla.
Brewers reliever Josh Hader expressed his support for the Bucks' boycott of their potential series-clinching playoff match against the Magic, which rippled across the NBA bubble, leading to further walkouts. The NBA later announced all three games would be rescheduled.
"I think it's an enormous stand," Hader said. "It's more than sports ... This is a time where we need to, really, not stay quiet and show and empower our voices."
The Brewers have not confirmed the postponement of their game. They did release a statement on Monday about the Sunday shooting of Blake, 29, who was reportedly attempting to break up a fight:
"The video of the shooting of Jacob Blake is deeply disturbing and raises many of the same questions we have been asking related to social injustice and racism in our communities. Once again, we are faced with images of a horrific incident that show what appear to be inexplicable and excessive force inflicted upon a Black individual. It stirs emotions of anger, confusion and great sadness at a time when we need healing and lasting change. We pray for a full recovery for Jacob, and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."
