Adam Silver issues urgent memo to deal with racial tensions

While the United States deals with protests and looting in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, Adam Silver wrote a memo to NBA employees on Sunday night.

The NBA commissioner’s thought-provoking comments touched upon systemic injustice in the United States.

Silver noted the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, two African-Americans who were killed in recent days, too.

“Just as we are fighting a pandemic, which is impacting communities and people of color more than anyone else, we are being reminded that there are wounds in our country that have never healed,” Silver wrote in the memo.

How Adam Silver spent his weekend

Adam Silver’s weekend involved observing the news and formulating a response and a challenge to his NBA colleagues to find ways to build a better American society.

“As a league, we share the outrage and offer our sincere condolences to their families and friends,” the commissioner wrote days after George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Silver added: “Racism, police brutality, and racial injustice remain part of everyday life in America and cannot be ignored. At the same time, those who serve and protect our communities honorably and heroically are again left to answer for those who don’t.”

A call for ‘greater introspection’

Adam Silver recognizes that America’s racial wounds can’t heal overnight. He called for the league to play its part in promoting empathy and cooperation to address problems.

“This moment also requires greater introspection from those of us, including me, who may never know the full pain and fear many of our colleagues and players experience every day,” Silver stated. “We have to reach out, listen to each other and work together to be part of the solution. And as an organization, we need to do everything in our power to make a meaningful difference. Even in this sad and difficult time, I know we can.”

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.