“We Demand Change!: Athletes Leading In Fight Against Racism and Unjust Policing!”
On Tuesday, September 1st, 2020, 12:00-1:00 PM Eastern Time, Host Barbara R. Arnwine, Esq. founder and president of the Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC), and her Co-Host Daryl D. Jones, Esq., TJC Board Chair and Henault & Sysko Chartered Partner, will look at the national activism of our nation's professional athletes in protest of police brutality, racism, and killings. On August 26th, the nation was rocked by the Milwaukee Bucks' and Orlando Magic's decision to walk out and boycott the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff games in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake 7 times in the back by the Kenosha Police. This boycott rapidly spread as all NBA teams decided to also boycott in support of their goals. Almost immediately, other athletes across active U.S. professional sports, including the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), the Western and Southern Open (tennis), Major League Soccer (MLS), and sports broadcasters, all refused to perform in solidarity with the NBA boycott. "[The Milwaukee Bucks] called on the Wisconsin Legislature to 'reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality and criminal justice reform.' They also encouraged people 'to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action, and remember to vote on Nov. 3.'" Since this boycott, games have resumed but only after the players won several concessions from the NBA to support expanded voting accessibility throughout the nation by using their sports arenas. In addition, Lebron James' "More Than A Vote" organization, which is dedicated to maximizing Black voter turnout in November, announced a multi-million dollar poll worker recruitment campaign in partnership with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
This campaign will coincide with the September 1st National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. "Established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is a day of action with the goal of encouraging potential poll workers to sign up to Help America Vote in 2020." Voting Rights Month also begins September 1st - August 6th.
At the beginning of the show, we will also pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman who on Friday, August 28th.
Our special guests for this show include: Denise (Coach T) Taylor, Former WNBA Coach; Shermena M. Nelson, AAPF's Chief of Staff/Director of Programs and Community Engagement; and, Dr. Gregory L. Primus, M.D., Former NFL Player and Current Sports Physician.
See guest bio’s left.
Questions to be discussed include: What was your first reaction when you heard the announcement of the Milwaukee Bucks' and Orlando Magic's NBA playoff boycott?; Have you been in touch with any of the current players?; Please explain the "bubble" to our audience and what effect you think the bubble has had in the unprecedented organizing by the NBA players?; Most people are unaware that since the beginning of this abbreviated season, the WNBA had already started wearing T-shirts with the insignia "#SayHerName" and holding regular ceremonies in recognition of Black women killed by police. In fact, these leadership actions in protest of police killings by the WNBA go all the way back to 2016 with the Minnesota Lynx protesting the killing of Philando Castille in Minnesota (see https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/24/16357206/national-anthem-protest-wnba-history-donald-trump). Why do you think the WNBA has been such leaders in the protest movement?; As a former WNBA Coach, how do you think you would respond to this special season of activism and the bubble?; As you know, the statement from the Bucks called upon people to vote on November 3rd and the demands from the NBA players to its leadership also demanded polling sites for accessibility for more voters. Was this focus on voting part of the NBA/WNBA culture when you were coaching? Why do you think this focus on voting has become so critical to NBA and WNBA players?; How can our listeners get involved?; Dr. Primus, how do you think these protests will affect the NFL and other sports? If you were playing now, what demands would you be advocating for your colleagues to make to NFL ownership and management?
There will be no Sound The Alarm this week.
You don’t want to miss this show!
Be sure to listen live in the Greater Washington DC Metro Region every Tuesday from 12:00-1:00 PM Eastern Time on WOL 1450 AM and on the Internet at BarbaraArnwine.com. You may call into the show with short questions or comments at 1-800-450-7876. The show will be live tweeted on the Transformative Justice Coalition Twitter which can be found at @TJC_DC.
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