Not enough professional athletes and organizations are supporting those affected by Roe v. Wade decision
As the results of the overturning of Roe v. Wade ripple all through the nation, notable professional athletes and groups communicate out whereas many stay silent.
There’s an intersection between social justice and sports activities not as a result of folks are altering, however as a result of platforms are.
In 1969, Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists within the air for Black energy. That iconic second set a precedent on the Olympics — no political demonstrations are at the moment banned — and it modified the lives of those two athletes endlessly.
“From that moment, the two athletes would be vilified, threatened and, in some circles, celebrated,” wrote The History Channel’s Nadra Kareem Nittle in how this second modified sports activities historical past.
A number of years faraway from Colin Kaepernick’s comparable protest within the NFL, athletes and organizations use social media platforms to show their values. Athletes have not too long ago spoken out in opposition to gun violence in America, the elevated violence in opposition to Black and Asian American communities, legal guidelines concentrating on trans and queer youth, and a mess of intertwined sides of American society that hurt its residents.
On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eradicating a 49-year safety for anybody in America who would grow to be pregnant. Immediately, tens of millions turned weak as they face a future the place they may very well be prosecuted for murder for a miscarriage.
While many professional athletes and organizations in ladies’s sports activities shortly spoke out in opposition to the missing authorized protections for his or her athletes, many males’s professional sports activities groups have been notably silent. For instance, the Cleveland Cavaliers have tweeted about their newest draftees, the St. Louis Cardinals have tweeted injury updates, and the New York Jets shared snapshots from Tight End U. As of but, none of those professional males’s sports activities groups, along with many others, have stated something a few decision that impacts over half of the U.S. inhabitants and a considerable portion of sports fans.
That being stated, there have been athletes and groups in males’s professional sports activities who spoke in solidarity with those who are affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. These people and groups stated one thing at a time when males’s sports activities stays largely silent on the problem, however as NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman stated, “reproductive rights are human rights.”
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 27: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court docket previous to the beginning of an NBA recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, User is consenting to the phrases and situations of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Here are the professional athletes in males’s sports activities talking out in opposition to Roe v. Wade decision
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers ahead
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets level guard
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies level guard
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Josh Hart, Portland Trail Blazers taking pictures guard
Juan Thornhill, Kansas City Chiefs security
Damien Harris, New England Patriots halfback
Jakob Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders fullback
Johnny Stanton, Cleveland Browns fullback
Mark Canha, New York Mets first baseman/outfielder
Jerry Blevins, former Oakland A’s/Washington Nationals/New York Mets/Atlanta Braves pitcher
Robert Griffin III, former NFL quarterback
Jeff Allen, former Kansas City Chiefs/Houston Texans guard
Kyle Long, former Chicago Bears/Kansas City Chiefs guard
Athletes like Seattle Seahawks security Quandre Diggs reshared tweets that criticized the Supreme Court decision.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MAY 22: Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign appears to be like on through the first half in opposition to the Washington Spirit at Lumen Field on May 22, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Here are the professional athletes in ladies’s sports activities talking out in opposition to Roe v. Wade decision
Megan Rapinoe, OL Reign and NWST winger
Lindsay Horan, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin ahead/midfielder (mortgage from Portland Thorns FC)
Sue Bird, Seattle Storm level guard
Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm energy ahead
Brianna Turner, Phoenix Mercury energy ahead
Stefanie Dolson, New York Liberty heart
Nikki Stanton, OL Reign midfielder
Madison Packer, Metropolitan Riveters ahead
Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm energy ahead
Muffet McGraw, former Notre Dame ladies’s basketball coach and professional athlete
Kaiya McCollough, former Washington Spirit Defender
Athletes like Las Vegas Aces small ahead A’ja Wilson and Phoenix Mercury level guard Skylar Diggins-Smith reshared tweets that criticized the Supreme Court decision.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MAY 20: Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm gathers together with her teammates after beating Los Angeles Sparks 83-80 at Climate Pledge Arena on May 20, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, User is consenting to the phrases and situations of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Here are the professional ladies’s sports activities groups talking out in opposition to Roe v. Wade decision
NWSL
WNBPA
WNFC (Women’s National Football Conference)
Seattle Storm
OL Reign
Angel City FC
Washington Spirit
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Portland Thorns FC
San Diego Wave FC
Racing Louisville FC
Here are the professional males’s sports activities groups talking out in opposition to Roe v. Wade decision
Premier Lacrosse League
Oakland Roots SC
San Diego Loyal
While ladies in sports activities are collectively reflecting on how this regulation concentrating on the reproductive rights of those who can grow to be pregnant, there are males in sports activities who stand in solidarity with them. Sadly, there aren’t enough of them.
