Whether it was LeBron James wearing an “I Can’t Breathe’’ T-shirt honoring Eric Garner back in 2014 or numerous NBA players wearing hoodies to show support in the Trayvon Martin case back in 2012, the Association has always prided itself on being loud voices in the fight against racism and the injustices caused by it.
Sunday was no different, as both Bulls COO Michael Reinsdorf and his wife Nancy, released a statement in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
“The events of the past weeks have been disturbing and challenging for us all,’’ the Reinsdorfs said in the statement. “The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as the incident with Christian Cooper, were gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. The Bulls organization sends our condolences to these families who have been caused unthinkable grief and to all those who suffer because of these terrible incidents.
“All too often, after these tragedies we talk but the conversations don’t result in any meaningful changes. Our communities can’t move forward or hope for peace when we’re constantly hitting the reset button after each incident. Everyone deserves to feel safe, to be respected and to be able to reach their full potential. Unfortunately, that’s not the kind of world we live in.
“We are angry, sad and confused. Racism in any form is wrong, and what we see happening makes us want to take action. We know that’s the same for a lot of people. But anger isn’t about destruction. Lawless actions won’t bring better understanding, and they don’t honor the lives that have been lost. We should use our energy and efforts to come together to build a better Chicago that stands for equality and justice for all.
“There is a crisis in our country, and we need to redouble our efforts and work harder than ever. We have to rise above our differences and come together to affect real change for the future; otherwise we’re going to see the past repeat itself again. We have to listen to each other, act with love and be intentional and relentless in our pursuit of a better world. It is time. We at the Chicago Bulls organization are committed to working together to stand for real change. We can do this together.’’
The Bulls represented a league-wide effort by all the teams to make a statement, with Minnesota, Philadelphia and Brooklyn just a few of the teams that spoke out about what’s gone on the last week.
As an organization, the 76ers released a statement that read, “Our black community and people of color continue to face racism, prejudice and injustice. It is unacceptable and we cannot and will not tolerate it in our community. Now, more than ever, we must strive for accountability, including ensuring that our community is treated with fairness, transparency and dignity. We must stay united and strong during the conflict and hurt we are experiencing. The 76ers are committed to using our voice and taking action to support and drive change that is long overdue.
“For our city. For our country. For our future. For each other. #PhilaUnited.’’
The reach of Floyd’s death while in police custody has even spread overseas, where several soccer players honored Floyd in their respective games.
Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho removed his jersey after scoring a goal, revealing the message “Justice for George Floyd,’’ while Borussia forward Marcus Thuram took a knee after scoring his first goal on Sunday.
