Ravens practiced Thursday but canceled afternoon meetings to address social justice
Just when it seemed like the country was gaining a semblance of normalcy with several different major league sports in the thick of postseason and abbreviated regular season play, it all came to a screeching halt last night.
Players and teams from all across the sports landscape refused to take their respective fields of play in solidarity with one another in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake at the hands of law enforcement in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The demonstrations started when 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and MVP finalist Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks who are the top seed in the Eastern Conference had their Game Five of their first-round playoff series versus the Orlando Magic postponed because the players refused to take the court.
It has since crossed over into other leagues and on Thursday several NFL franchises canceled scheduled practices and scrimmages. While the Baltimore Ravens decided to take the field to practice, they canceled their afternoon meeting to turn their attention toward taking the next steps is attacking social injustice and racial inequality.
“The team decided to practice this morning, but after practice, the team will come together for a team meeting to discuss and work on a plan for continued social justice work,” a team spokesman said.
The organization has been one of the NFL’s foremost leaders in trying to invoke change and promote racial equality. Earlier this summer in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder by Minneapolis Minnesota law enforcement, Owner Steve Bisciotti, and the team pledged $1 million to help the reform efforts in the Baltimore area and a panel of current and former players recently selected 28 different initiatives that funds will be allocated to help make lasting change.
“We have a powerful platform – and a responsibility – to help eliminate injustices that are prevalent in our communities. For far too long, people of color have been underserved by a system that should protect, rather than harm,” Bisciotti stated. “Our entire organization, including players past and present, is fully committed to creating social justice reform. We will continue to seek out opportunities that support, encourage, and defend those who are most in need.”
