Major league athletic departments as well as the University of Alabama’s student athletes are showing their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. UA’s athletes came together this Monday to peacefully protest against police brutality. NBA, MLB, and other major league associations have gone on strike to protest as well.
Athletes from all sports at UA came together and walked from the Mal Moore Athletic Complex all the way to the Foster Auditorium. Football head coach Nick Saban as well as other members of the Crimson Tide football team and University officials spoke about the need for change and equality in society.
“While much has changed in the last 57 years, too many things have not,” running back Najee Harris said.
The student-athletes as well as their coaches marched together down the roads with their masks on chanting “Black lives matter!” Many students held signs with saying such as “Stand for something or fall for anything,” and the raised fist Black Lives Matter symbol.
“I think it is amazing that the University put this together. Alabama is such a conservative state so to have the University come together to voice their opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement I think it is amazing to take a stand for what is right,” UA student Madeline Zyck said.
After the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin sports teams such as the NBA’S Milwaukee Bucks and the MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers went on strike to represent their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Many professional teams followed Milwaukee’s strike such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. Along with protesting the fifth playoff game of the season the NBA has also shown their support in the movement by having “Black Lives Matter” written on the courts in Orlando, Florida.
Although these are not the first gestures the sports world has seen to promote racial equality and stand up against police brutality. Going back to September of 2016 with Collin Kaepernick sitting during the nation anthem.
“As a young black man, I enjoy every minute of this. Sports is something we all enjoy regardless of our upbringings or political backgrounds and this movement is exactly what these athletes need to be doing with their platforms,” University of Alabama student, Tristan Williams said.
Many athletes and athletic associations, collegiate or professional have received some backlash towards their support of the Black Lives Matter movement; although, many have stood their ground and continued to vocalize their support towards justice.
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