Jacob Blake opened an SUV door. Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey grabbed Blake’s white shirt and shot seven times. Blake’s three children sat in the back seat—terrified. Blake lies paralyzed in the hospital.
President Donald does not comment. Later, he threatens to send federal agency officers to Kenosha to stem the violence that broke in one of America’s most segregated cities. He also claimed to be sending the National Guard. (Not your call, Donald. That’s for the governor of Wisconsin.)
Seventeen-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse is charged with murdering two men participating in the Kenosha Black Lives Matter march. During the incidents, some 20 gunshots were fired, most not from Rittenhouse. Police do nothing.
No comment from Donald.
After a call to arms on social media, packs of armed White men “protect” Kenosha.
No comment from Donald.
Speakers at the Republican National Convention paint Donald as the exemplar of racial justice.
The worst hurricane in Gulf history hits the coast.
No comment from Donald.
He cannot comment. He is preoccupied with inaccurate labels for Joe Biden, Democrats, and anyone who disagrees with his moronic positions, such as Covid 19 will disappear by Easter. (Maybe Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years? His speakers warn of Biden’s “nepotism,” as his adult children and wife speak at the convention—all of whom also worked on the convention.)
He cannot comment. He is basking in the limelight of the Republican convention, much of which seems to violate the Hatch Act. I can hear him saying to Don Jr.: “While if I can’t get my face on Mount Rushmore, this is almost as good.”
He has taken his black marker and rubbed out American history and tradition and packed the result into four days in Washington—while ignoring the anger, frustration, and fear caused by the racial injustice in America. He’s no President. He is a demagogue.
Too many Democrats have remained silent as well.
There's no courage in politics. They hide in their silence. Better to stick one's head in the sand.
The nation’s professional athletes have emerged as America’s leaders, and they are asking how many videos like that of Blake do Americans need to see before change occurs. More importantly, how many do they need to see before they admit there's racial injustice in America.
They assumed the mantel of leadership yesterday afternoon. The Milwaukee Bucks made an unprecedented move. Its players boycotted the fifth playoff game with the Orlando Magic. The players issued this statement: “We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable. For this to occur, it’s imperative for the Wisconsin state Legislature to reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality and criminal justice reform.” Quickly other NBA teams followed the lead forged by the Bucks.
That’s leadership.
The WNBA Washington Mystics arrived wearing jerseys with Blake’s name. The Milwaukee Brewers canceled its game against the Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers, Mariners, Padres, and Giants followed suit. (The Yankees, my team, played two games against the Braves. It lost both. Good.) Five Major League Soccer games were postponed. Naomi Osaka boycotted playing in the Western and Southern Tennis Open, which players use as a tune-up for the U.S. Open. She tweeted: “Before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman. And 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.” Later, the U.S. Tennis Association suspended the tournament.
That’s leadership.
Each league, especially the NBA and WNBA, have shown Americans how to live and work in the world infected by Covid 19. These men and women have distracted us from the sad state of living in isolation and with economic uncertainty. They have stepped forward about the social injustice in America.
Yesterday, scores of athletes walked away from careers they have built since childhood. Few individuals have ever shown that much dedication to a career. They stopped what they have dreamt about for a lifetime. There’s risk involved. Will fans return? Will fans reject them as they did the NFL players who took a knee? Even with that economic pressure, the player’s management stood behind them.
These men and women forced us to turn off our televisions and smartphones. They forced America to take notice. They have America listening. Truly listening, maybe for the first time. They have gone beyond their obligation as public figures. They stood together as citizens.
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