As sporting events come back from being on a break due to the pandemic, some leagues are taking a huge stance for the black lives matter movement. Others are not.
Some NHL fans are criticizing players for not being in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. During the exhibition in Toronto and Edmonton yesterday (July 30), hockey players remained standing during the American and Canadian national anthem. Black girl hockey club on Twitter started a hashtag to bring more awareness to the cause. Hockey fans decided if the NHL won’t support the modern-day civil rights movement, they will. Take a look:
It's great to see co-conspirators taking a knee for Black lives on the TL!! Let's #Kneel4Hockey & inspire those white players who want to take action but are still scared to make other white folks uncomfortable. We already know how POC players feel. What about the rest of them?
— Black Girl Hockey Club (@BlackGirlHockey) July 31, 2020
We love it!!! #Kneel4Hockey https://t.co/KZS18jbQYu
— Black Girl Hockey Club (@BlackGirlHockey) July 31, 2020
Since the @NHL @PR_NHL won’t do it, i’ll take a knee. I’ll say a prayer while i’m at it because this country is HURTING, our Black community is HURTING. We don’t want you to “stand in solidarity”, we want you to take a knee in protest. #Kneel4Hockey because #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/wCrf67fTbk
— Gabi 😜💕 (@Y0GabbaGabi) July 31, 2020
If the players won’t, I will #Kneel4Hockey. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/SXxfZQhtvS
— Jillian Fisher (@FisherJillian) July 31, 2020
I kneel because others won’t. I kneel because the NHL has refused to acknowledge the racism and injustices that are so prevalent in hockey culture #Kneel4Hockey #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/jOhW8FxK5r
— From Tape to Tape (@fromtapetotape) July 31, 2020
I did #Kneel4Hockey! Now what?
Donate.
Protest.
Find your local BLM leaders and help them however they need
Keep educating yourselves
Collect your family and friends.A lottttt of Black women have compiled resources (yes they did the work for you) on how to fight racism
— Jashvina Shah (@icehockeystick) July 31, 2020
The nationwide and global push for equal justice started because of the 2020 murders of George Floyd, Ahmad Arbery, and Breonna Taylor at the hands of law enforcement.
The NBA and WNBA have shown their solidarity for the cause. NBA players are wearing shirts that have social justice messages and are kneeling before games. People like LeBron James has been pushing hard for Breonna Taylor’s justice and for the cops involved to be arrested. WNBA players wear the initials of women who were killed at the hands of police.
The @LAClippers and @Lakers kneel in solidarity as the Compton Kidz Club performs the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/1WImoaHBsQ
— NBA (@NBA) July 31, 2020
Our game, our voices. pic.twitter.com/Xn5zbfMGaX
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 31, 2020
Even though the NFL hasn’t been supportive of players who peacefully protest by kneeling, like former player Colin Kaepernick, they are allowing their players to wear the initials of victims of police brutality. In the MLB, baseball players also showed their support for the fight for equal rights by kneeling.
Let’s keep our foot on the pedal, the fight is NOT OVER!