Red Sox

Read the Red Sox’ statement on George Floyd’s death and the recent protests

"Silence in the face of injustice is unacceptable."

Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy released a statement expressing his sentiments on the recent protests over George Floyd's death. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

By Deyscha Smith

Amidst the ongoing protests and tension sweeping the country after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died by homicide after being arrested by a white police officer in Minneapolis, many Boston sports figures and teams have spoken up.

On Saturday, Celtics forward Jaylen Brown drove 15 hours to lead a protest in Atlanta, and the following day, thousands of people, including Marcus Smart, Enes Kanter and Vincent Poirier, gathered on Boston Common to peacefully protest. That night, Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty and his brother, safety Devin McCourty, took time on their podcast, “Double Coverage”, to share their thoughts on the protests, specifically the looting and rioting.

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The Red Sox are the latest Boston sports team to weigh in. On Tuesday, President and CEO Sam Kennedy expressed his sentiments on where he and the organization stand on the issues:

“I have been struggling to find the right words to express the profound anguish, outrage and confusion we are all feeling in the wake of the heartbreaking incidents that hover occurred across the country over the past few months,” Kennedy wrote in his note. “The senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor are stark reminders that racism and police brutality continue to be pervasive in America. I am proud of our teammates who peacefully protested on Sunday. Each of you helped shine a spotlight on injustice and used your voice to advocate for change. Please know we stand with you.

“Over the past few days, I spent time connecting with many of you and listening to your perspectives. I am so grateful to my teammates who consistently remind me that the Red Sox have an obligation to amplify the voices of those who share our values, but do not share our platform. Silence in the face of injustice is unacceptable.  Thank you for your support of each other during these challenging times. Our work continues.”

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The Red Sox also retweeted a post by the Black Lives Matter movement honoring the lives lost to police brutality. In support, they reconfigured the scoreboard at Fenway Park with the statement, “Black Lives Matter.”

 

The Paw Sox also released a statement in support. See it below:

https://twitter.com/PawSox/status/1267840340016455681?s=20

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