At the National Action Network Saturday
rally, Rev. Al Sharpton, with Gwen Carr at his side, made the following
statement regarding the fines of New York Liberty players for
supporting the victims of police brutality:
“These young ladies took
it upon themselves to send a very simple message standing up against
police brutality and racial bias. They just wore black shirts and for
that they were each fined $500. LeBron James came
to New York and wore an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt. Athletes joined with
us and wore hoodies when we were fighting for justice for Trayvon Martin
down in Florida. But for some reason they’re setting a different
precedent for these women, these WNBA players, and
they’re doing it on the same weekend we were remembering two years
since the death of Eric Garner. National Action Network is announcing
this morning that we will pay their fines, and if they take it out of
their salaries we will reimburse these WNBA players.
They have the right in the city where a man was choked to death, they
have the right to dress in a t-shirt and they have the right to be
concerned for the fans who come to see us them play. They didn’t offend
anybody, they just wore something, and said, ‘I
am concerned about my fans.’ Last month, the whole sports world
supported Muhammad Ali for standing up to war, and a month later you
fine young ladies for wearing t-shirts? Unacceptable. I may also decide
to do a little marching and picketing as well.”
Source: Mercury
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