Sounders players react to strike in support of social justice
Players took to social media to make their feelings known
Following a team meeting and the decision by the Seattle Sounders not to play on Wednesday night, players took to social media to voice their thoughts on where that decision came from. Amidst protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin after Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by police, players and teams from sports and leagues around the United States have spoken up and utilized their platforms by choosing not to play in order to bring awareness to the continued injustices upon which this country is built.
Some of the posts reflected the solidarity within the team in coming to the decision not to play. Across Twitter and Instagram seemingly all of the Sounders shared a picture of the team with a comment or caption referencing the Black Lives Matter movement.
We can’t continue to live our lives normally when a change is needed. Today, we are standing on the side of change. #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/G7Sse7brTJ
— Stefan Cleveland (@stef_cleveland) August 27, 2020
Brad Evans shared some of his own thoughts on the collective action being taken by the Sounders, as well.
TEAM: when everyone buys in for a common cause you can start to make change. If you can’t or don’t want to be part of the team, family or solution.... kindly leave. It’s pretty simple. https://t.co/AyUxLBj3gr
— brad evans (@brad_evans3) August 27, 2020
Others like Stefan Frei, Jordan Morris, and Alex and Cristian Roldan also made separate posts to express themselves.
Disturbing times, not in the mood to play. Human rights are bigger than sports
— Stefan Frei (@Stefan24Frei) August 27, 2020
Silence is violence. This fight is so much bigger than sports
— Jordan Morris (@JmoSmooth13) August 27, 2020
We say enough far too often. It’s sad and upsetting to see it happen again and again.
— Alexander (@Alex_Roldan8) August 27, 2020
Enough is enough. The world needs change. This fight is bigger than a game.
— Cristian Roldan⚽ (@CristianRoldan) August 27, 2020
Beyond his own comments, Jordan Morris also shared a video from the athlete-led VOYCENOW Foundation.
We demand accountability and justice. We will NOT be silent. Athletes and fans from all over are coming together to pledge their voice to create change.
— VOYCENOW Foundation (@VOYCEnow) August 26, 2020
Stay tuned for more... #blacklivesmatter #voycenow pic.twitter.com/1C8IRv3faV
The Sounders weren’t the only local club to voice their solidarity, as OL Reign offered their support for the strike in a team statement.
#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/u0nNifFbDa
— OL Reign (@OLReign) August 27, 2020
This fight is not over. This is certainly not the last we’ll see from teams and athletes on the topic, and while this strike is in response to this most recent act of racist violence it is also a continuation of the work being done as the women of the WNBA have strived tirelessly to bring awareness to the failure to provide justice for the death of Breonna Taylor, the players and teams from leagues everywhere who knelt and continue to kneel during the national anthem and before games in protest of police brutality and the unchecked violence against Black and Indigenous peoples. This didn’t start a few months ago with the murders of Ahmad Arbery, George Floyd and Manuel Ellis, or even years ago with the deaths of Charleena Lyles, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, or the endless list of victims of a nation and a system built on the oppression of anyone and everyone who doesn’t fit into a narrow view of whiteness in order to empower a select few. This strike will hopefully continue, and maybe these actions can help to bring about true, permanent change to an evil system.