News — The players of Major League Soccer have elected to boycott their Wednesday night matches. Players are following the suit of the Milwaukee Bucks, who boycotted their NBA Playoff game against the Orlando Magic.
The boycott comes as a protest against police brutality in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake, an African American male, survived being shot in the back seven times, in front of his children, by accused officer Rusten Sheskey.
Players throughout the NBA, WNBA, MLS and the MLB have boycotted games. WNBA players donned shirts on the court of Blake’s name, with bullet holes in the back and fake blood. However, Orlando City and Nashville SC continued their match. The decision for players to boycott, from other teams, happened while the match kicked off.
Players have taken to social media to express outrage against the shooting. Also, players spoke about the MLS boycott.
According to Washington Post reporter Steven Goff, not all teams elected to forgo matches. However, to the matches that weren’t led by players to boycott, the league elected to postpone them.
However, Mark-Anthony Kaye of LAFC debunked those rumors. In response to a lackluster statement by Major League Soccer, Kaye said that the players made the decision. “Fix this, please give the right narrative.”
Meanwhile, the MLS Players Association came out with a statement, saying, “The MLSPA stands with the decision made by players — and with those made by players in other leagues — not to play tonight in protest of systemic racial injustice, the latest example of which is the horrific shooting of Jacob Blake. Some things are far more important than sports. Change must happen and athletes are committed to leading the way.”
Reaction from players during the MLS Boycott
BLM. pic.twitter.com/pNfXTkw0or
— Cristian Roldan⚽ (@CristianRoldan) August 27, 2020
Statement from the club. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/5Fo59c1fwg
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) August 27, 2020
Proud of @MLS players and players around the pro sports landscape for taking a stand tonight. Enough is enough! #BlackLivesMatter @BPCMLS
— Connor Lade (@clade5) August 27, 2020
Enough is enough. The world needs change. This fight is bigger than a game.
— Cristian Roldan⚽ (@CristianRoldan) August 27, 2020
Club statement. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/5IaHEeBnSK
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 27, 2020
Proud of sports tonight and all of my guys in MLS. ✊🏿
— Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore) August 27, 2020
We will not be playing our match tonight.
We support our players and stand in solidarity with the Black community.#JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/XHYeKWzYe5
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 27, 2020
Silence is violence. This fight is so much bigger than sports
— Jordan Morris (@JmoSmooth13) August 27, 2020
Inter Miami and Atlanta United stand together in solidarity as they boycott their match tonight. pic.twitter.com/AuJDSbNvQ1
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 27, 2020
We made a decision together as players and staffs to not play our game tonight because there’s more happening in our country to distract our minds to soccer. This is the first time I can agree to the saying “it’s just a game” #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/bdQs2ZXcKb
— KEI KAMARA (@keikamara) August 27, 2020
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 27, 2020
