PGA Tour supports ‘social justice and player-led protests’
Issued: By the PGA Tour, a statement on “social justice and player-led protests” after athletes in many other professional sports leagues opted to suspend play to protest the recent killing of Jacob Blake, a Black resident of Kenosha, Wis., during a confrontation with Kenosha police. The slaying Sunday has prompted three nights of protests in Kenosha, with two killed in Wednesday’s unrest. The Tour’s statement Thursday: “The MLB, MLS, NBA, WNBA and WTA protests are player-led, peaceful, powerful ways to use their respective platforms to bring about the urgent need for change in our country. There have been a number of efforts in the past to send a message that the current climate is unacceptable, and these teams, leagues and players now taking this step will help draw further attention to the issues that really matter. The PGA TOUR supports them – and any of our own members – standing up for issues they believe in. The PGA TOUR made a pledge over the summer to be part of the solution, and we have been actively working to make deeper and more specific commitments to racial equity and inclusion in the communities where we play, as well as supporting national organizations within this movement that we had not previously engaged with. However, we understand that now is not the appropriate time to highlight our programs and policies, but rather to express our outrage at the injustice that remains prevalent in our country. Sports have always had the power to inspire and unify, and we remain hopeful that together, we will achieve change.” The statement was released during the first round of the BMW Championship, the second of three events in the season-ending FedEx Cup playoffs, at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club. No PGA Tour player withdrew from the BMW in support of the movement. Cameron Champ, who is biracial, wore a mixed pair of shoes – black on his left foot, and white on his right, with the inscription “Jacob Blake BLM,” for Black Lives Matter, to show his support for the movement.
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