PGA will support player protest against racial injustice

The PGA-series gave their support to any golfer who decides to protest against racial injustice after boycotts by athletes in other sports.

When the PGA Tour returned in June from a three-month COVID-19 hiatus it held a moment of silence during each of the four rounds of that week’s tournament to honor George Floyd, a Black American who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck.

The NBA-basketball league’s Milwaukee Bucks, based in Wisconsin, started the protest action by boycotting their game against Orlando Magic. After the Bucks refused to leave their locker room for their first-round playoff game, the NBA postponed all three games that were scheduled to be played on Wednesday. This decision led to various other similar protests in other sports in an unprecedented show of solidarity.

PGA supports protests

“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 said in a statement on Thursday. “The PGA Tour supports them – and any of our own members – standing up for issues they believe in.”

The PGA Tour, which on Thursday kicked off the second of three FedExCup Playoffs events, said it had been working to make more specific commitments to racial equity and inclusion in the communities where it plays.

“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,” the PGA Tour said.

The decision made by the Milwaukee Bucks encouraged not only tennis star Naomi Osaka and MLB- and MLS- teams to take a stand. Japan’s twice Grand Slam champion Osaka pulled out of a tournament after reaching the semi-finals. The NHL-hockey league postponed their games for Thursday and Friday. They were criticized on social media for their hesitance after not immediately cancelling. The NFL also cancelled all practice sessions on Thursday.

The event in which Jacob Blake (29) was paralyzed after two policemen shot him seven times in the back is what lead to the massive protest action. It took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday evening. The incident was captured on video. While Blake survived despite injuries to his spine and multiple organs, he may be permanently paralyzed.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3b65OCe