Jacob Blake: Sports matches postponed in protest over police treatment of black people
- Published
Empty seats and court where the Milwaukee Bucks were meant to play
Several basketball, baseball, and soccer matches in the US have been postponed for a second day in protest against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin last week by police.
On Wednesday players from the US basketball team the Milwaukee Bucks - who are from the state of Wisconsin too - decided to call off their match against the team Orlando Magic.
After calling off their game the Bucks players said: "Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball... We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable."
On Sunday, in the city of Kenosha in the state of Wisconsin, USA, a black man named Jacob Blake was shot by a police officer.
He's now recovering in hospital but his family say he may not be able to walk again because of his injuries.
The shooting was seen by many as an example of police brutality in the US and the unfair treatment of people who are black. It sparked lots of protests and calls for change.
The Department of Justice in the US has opened a federal investigation into the shooting.
Games in both the men's NBA league and women's league, have been postponed as well as in baseball and soccer.
NBA executive vice president Mike Bass said the league was "hopeful to resume games either Friday or Saturday", after a video meeting with players, team governors and representatives on Thursday "to discuss next steps".
This comes after months of protests against the way that black people are treated in America sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody in May.
The Lakers' LeBron James tweeted: "We demand change. Sick of it."
The Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic are in the middle of a play-off series, with the Bucks 3-1 up
Former US president, Barack Obama, a big basketball fan, supported the decision and said online: "I commend the players on the @Bucks for standing up for what they believe in... It's going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values."
Current US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the NBA has become "like a political organisation" and senior adviser Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, said that he plans to invite the Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to the White House to discuss solutions to racial injustice.
"I think that it's nice that they're standing up for the issue, but I'd like to see them start moving into concrete solutions that are productive," he told online magazine Politico.
"And again, President Trump in this White House is willing to work with them."
Barack Obama was president of the USA before Donald Trump and was the first black president of country
Tennis star Naomi Osaka has also pulled out of her semi-final in the Western & Southern Open in New York on Thursday.
Naomi explained that she'd made the decision because "... as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis".
Naomi Osaka is one of the top tennis players in the world
The US Tennis Association, ATP and WTA has announced it was pausing play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday and would resume on Friday, adding that "tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice".
Former world number one Osaka has now said she will now play her semi-final on Friday, thanking the governing bodies for their support and adding in a statement: "I was [and am] ready to concede my match to my opponent.
"However, after my announcement and lengthy consultation with the WTA and USTA, I have agreed at their request to play on Friday. They offered to postpone all matches until Friday and that in my mind brings more attention to the movement."
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