The NBA is resuming the season in the midst of a global pandemic as well as a huge Civil Rights movement that has swept the nation. This is a tough time for everybody involved and the NBA has allowed players to have social justice messages on the back of their jerseys rather than their last names.
The league has also loosened up on their rule of having to stand during the national anthem during the restart as every team has kneeled in peaceful protest during the anthem to get the message across. The Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers are no different.
As the anthem was playing in their resumption opener on Saturday, both teams took a knee and locked arms to help spread awareness of the social injustices in the world. Coach Brett Brown and the organization will be on the side of their players at this time. That is the message the team wants to spread.
“One of solidarity,” said Brown pregame. “This topic, this attention, this racial injustice issue that we’re living and breathing in such a significant way and how it’s impacted everybody, not just the United States. To show a level that this is a unified message that the coaches supporting the players, the league supporting the players, the Philadelphia 76ers organization led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer and Elton Brand supporting our players.”
#Sixers, #Pacers and ref kneel during the national anthem pic.twitter.com/zErBCpdNoz
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) August 1, 2020
“This is not something that we take lightly,” Brown continued. “We have been talking about this as a team for many, many months with all of the flashpoints that have happened along the way. I think tonight encompasses many, many things, but sort of none more important than supporting the desire of our players.”
This is a huge movement that is continuing to gain momentum and it is important to the players to express themselves in this manner. They just want to be heard for their thoughts on social issues. [lawrence-related id=35953,35945,35939]
