[LA Clippers\George Floyd Policing Act]
ESPN: “The Clippers held their virtual meeting with Bass, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, less than a week after NBA players held an emotional meeting about whether to continue playing the postseason last Wednesday.”
Photo: YouTube
The LA Clippers (and coach Doc Rivers) met with Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., during practice on Tuesday to discuss ways in which the Clippers can help put pressure on lawmakers to pass bills like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.
The Clippers held their virtual meeting with Bass, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, less than a week after NBA players held an emotional meeting about whether to continue playing the postseason last Wednesday.
“She was terrific,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said on Wednesday about Bass’ message to the team at practice the day before. “She talked about how important voices are out there, how important the protests are out there because it puts pressure on them and getting things passed.
“She is the one who wrote, in conjunction with the Black Caucus, the George Floyd bill. And that is something the [National Basketball] Players Association and the league is trying to get through. We need [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell to actually introduce it to the floor of the Senate.”
Players and staff from the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens recently signed a letter urging Sen. McConnell to bring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to the Senate floor for a vote.
Several NBA players and coaches were frustrated and angry last week after Wisconsin police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Bucks opted not to take the floor for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic last Wednesday, sparking the postponement of several games.
Players met and discussed whether to keep playing and how to impact social justice change last Wednesday. Rivers was asked to talk to players at the request of Oklahoma City point guard and NBPA president Chris Paul.
The Clippers’ meeting with Bass was to help players try to figure out more ways to impact change for the social justice causes most important to them.
Read rest of story here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29796186/clippers-discuss-how-push-congress-passing-george-floyd-justice-policing-act
