How Will Protests Shape What Pro Sports Leagues, Teams Do To Make Change?

A few familiar faces joined the thousands of protesters who marched from Roxbury to the State House in Boston last week to speak out against racism and police brutality after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of officers in Minneapolis.

“We’ve got Marcus Smart and we’ve got Vincent Poirier right there, here to support us,” protest organizers told the crowd on May 31. “The same way we support them every single night, they’re here to support us.”

The two Celtics, who were at the front steps of the State House with protesters, weren’t the only ones joining such demonstrations. Their teammate Enes Kanter also joined marchers that day. Another, Jaylen Brown, led a protest in Atlanta the day before.

“Being a celebrity, being an NBA player don’t exclude me from no conversations,” Brown said on a video on his Instagram account. “First and foremost, I’m a black man and I’m a member of this community and I grew up on this soil.”

As the country mourns the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other African Americans, professional athletes have been voicing their discontent with the racial status quo. It’s not just the Celtics. Players throughout the NBA and other pro leagues — locally and nationally — have been using their voices to call for change.

Celtics Coach Brad Stevens spoke to reporters last week and praised his team’s players for speaking out.

“We want them to stand for what they believe in and we want to be supportive of that,” he said. “And that’s been clear the whole time I’ve been there, but it’s been reinforced over and over and over … and I think that that’s been a big part of why I’ve enjoyed working here so much.”

Players, coaches, teams — the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins have all issued statements and the New England Revolution and Boston Pride have also expressed support for those demanding justice — and even leagues are supporting the protests. And public condemnation has been heaped on those who aren’t supportive.

Read the rest of this story at GBH’s website.