Thursday night’s game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies has been postponed as players call attention to racial injustice following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.
The teams join a host of athletes across the sports world, from tennis to basketball, who are stopping play in protest.
See the Nationals’ statement below:
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 27, 2020
The Oakland Athletics made the decision not to play their game against the Texas Rangers, and several other MLB games were postponed in protest, though some games were played Thursday.
The NFL, NBA and WNBA have also seen teams make the decision to bow out of practice and games in protest of police brutality and Blake’s shooting.
The Washington Football Team announced they canceled practice “to have dialogue on social injustice and reflect on the shooting of Jacob Blake.”
Today we canceled football activity for our players and staff to have dialogue on Social Injustice and reflect on the shooting of Jacob Blake. pic.twitter.com/MSRBAJekgL
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 27, 2020
The Baltimore Ravens put out a comprehensive statement Thursday night:
Statement from the Baltimore Ravens: pic.twitter.com/Q8kOzQ8qAZ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 27, 2020
The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans also did not practice Thursday in protest.
The NBA saw a second day of playoff game disruptions as a result of player protests. A source speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity said the players had agreed to finish the rest of the postseason.
“We obviously agree that whether we play or not, we still have to do our best to make change and we still have to do our part in the community,” Orlando guard Michael Carter-Williams said in a video interview with a Magic public relations official.
The WNBA also canceled all games Thursday, a second night of disruption, as teams took a stance against police violence and Blake’s shooting.
“This is not a strike. This is not a boycott. This is a affirmatively day of reflection, a day of informed action and mobilization,” WNBA players’ union President Nneka Ogwumike said on ESPN.
The NHL faced criticism as playoff games continued even as other pro sports leagues had postponed games or had players sit out Wednesday night. But, on Thursday, the league and the players’ union decided to put off playoff games Thursday and Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
