The NBA has postponed all games on Wednesday due to a wave of player boycotts in peaceful protest.
The player protests come after a reportedly unarmed Black man named Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times in Kenosha, Wis. on Sunday. Blake's father announced on Tuesday that Blake is currently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting.
A Blake family attorney said that Blake was “breaking up a fight between two women" when the police arrived, responding to a "domestic incident." Video shows that Blake was shot in the back after opening the driver's side door to the car that contained his three sons. Another attorney representing the family said that Blake did not have a weapon in his car.
“Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times in front of his children," said Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes on Monday. "And let me be clear, this was not an accident. This was not bad police work. This felt like some sort of vendetta being taking out on a member of our community. ... The irony is not lost on me that as Jacob Blake was actually trying to deescalate a situation in his community, but the responding officer didn’t feel the need to do the same."
The Milwaukee Bucks, who play in Blake's home state of Wisconsin, were the first to boycott when they did not take the court for their Game 5 against the Orlando Magic.
The Bucks players made this decision in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin, ultimately deciding that they wouldn't leave the locker room for the start of Game 5 against Orlando. https://t.co/COJ6E0aJLj
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
Inside the locker room, the Milwaukee Bucks were on a conference call with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
"Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball."
Sterling Brown and George Hill read a prepared statement from the Milwaukee Bucks players.
(via @malika_andrews)pic.twitter.com/9rsHeWoKKx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 26, 2020
Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change
— Alex Lasry (@AlexanderLasry) August 26, 2020
The Lakers have a team meeting soon to discuss the possbility of boycotting Game 5 tonight against Portland, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020
STATEMENT FROM THE ORLANDO MAGIC AND THE DeVOS FAMILY pic.twitter.com/jRZJmo1mq4
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) August 26, 2020
A historic statement for justice. Respect, @bucks.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cTZSoQIvy6
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 26, 2020
#JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/OhToTWSk9O
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 26, 2020
Kenny Smith joins the players and walks off the set of Inside the NBA pic.twitter.com/iurFu9DraX
— Čöłęÿ Mīçk (@ColeyMick) August 26, 2020
Every word Chris Webber says here should be listened to. pic.twitter.com/L2mKUqEHL1
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 26, 2020
WNBA
The Mystics are arriving to the game in shirts that spell out Jacob Blake, and it appears on the back there are red marks to signify the 7 bullet holes that Milwaukee police shot into his back. https://t.co/VvR2k5tEu4
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) August 26, 2020
WNBA players are not playing tonight. All games canceled.
— Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (@darcangel21) August 26, 2020
.@E_Williams_1 of the @AtlantaDream reads a statement as a representative for all WNBA players. pic.twitter.com/Gb0fhYM8T9
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 27, 2020
"If Jacob Blake were a dog, and the police were to shoot him seven times in the same spot, we would have a lot more people up in arms. So, what does that tell you about my value?" — Chicago Sky coach James Wade
— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) August 26, 2020
MLB
The Reds have agreed not to play as well. No forfeit situation. Both teams have agreed to sit out tonight’s game. https://t.co/BZJAg8GujJ
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) August 26, 2020
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 27, 2020
The San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers game tonight has been postponed, sources tell ESPN. It's the third MLB game to be canceled in the wake of the NBA players refusing to play after the fallout of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 27, 2020
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 27, 2020
Ending police brutality is more important than sports
— Cole Tucker (@cotuck) August 26, 2020
NFL
✊?✊?✊?✊?✊?@NBA @WNBA @MLB pic.twitter.com/sIvpaZCf1Q
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 26, 2020
Washington has canceled practice tomorrow scheduled at FedExField. pic.twitter.com/4PDWYTxRBM
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 27, 2020
The world we live in... pic.twitter.com/YkxB9eHjEO
— Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool) August 27, 2020
MLS
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2020
The scene right now in Miami for Atlanta United-Inter Miami. pic.twitter.com/jQZ1HeeDdD
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) August 27, 2020
Disturbing times, not in the mood to play. Human rights are bigger than sports
— Stefan Frei (@Stefan24Frei) August 27, 2020
MLS had six matches scheduled tonight. All appear headed to being postponed except for Nashville-Orlando City, which is currently at halftime.
— Mark J. Burns (@markjburns88) August 27, 2020
We as players made the decision. Fix this, please give the right narrative. https://t.co/0Qhb8L7dMc
— Mark-Anthony Kaye (@MarkThEwizz) August 27, 2020
TENNIS
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
NHL
"We can do more. Clearly, we need to do more."@AnsonCarterLA, @liam_mchugh and the @NHLonNBCSports team react to the Bucks' decision to boycott Game 5, and the NBA postponing all the games tonight. pic.twitter.com/4TXeJwO0cQ
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 26, 2020
"I don't think we should be here. I think the NHL should postpone the games. I really feel that we should be more supportive of Black Lives Matter."@KellyHrudey on Hockey Central tonight: pic.twitter.com/nff94uR9JX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 27, 2020
Major statement by the NBA players ?????? I’m with it!
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) August 26, 2020
NBA Players leading! ✊?WE STAND WITH YOU AND DEMAND CHANGE! @TheOfficialHDA
— Matt Dumba (@matt_dumba) August 26, 2020
"It's not just my responsibility as a minority player in the NHL to be talking about these issues... We need to be better."@evanderkane_9 joined @DavidAmber to discuss how the NHL can do more to support the Black Lives Matter movement. pic.twitter.com/wKFqxS0hav
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 26, 2020
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says there are currently no plans to postpone tonight's games. "I don’t expect the League to initiate a game stoppage. Obviously, our Players are free to express themselves in any manner they feel is appropriate."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) August 26, 2020
In the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, the NHL will hold a moment of reflection before tonight's Tampa/Boston game in Toronto and tonight's Colorado/Dallas game in Edmonton.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) August 26, 2020
The NBA, WNBA, and MLB did not play games as scheduled today because players chose to strike.
This was the NHL's response.. pic.twitter.com/aDGoYZyiJt
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) August 27, 2020
