Sportswear Giants Release Their Statements on Jacob Blake Shooting
Nike, adidas and PUMA
Following the strike of the NBA players, sportswear giants and athlete sponsors Nike, adidas and PUMA have released statements regarding the shooting of Jacob Blake.
“Nike stands in support of NBA and WNBA players and athletes across the sports community in their response to the senseless shooting of Jacob Blake,” Nike wrote on its news site and Twitter. “We remain committed to addressing the issue of systemic racism experienced by the Black community.”
— Nike (@Nike) August 27, 2020
adidas did the same, “We support all players and coaches across sport who are using their platforms to demand justice. Black Lives Matter.”
Black Lives Matter. pic.twitter.com/4LBUGArLb3
— adidas (@adidas) August 27, 2020
PUMA also released its statement and encouraged everyone to remember the names of the victims. “We support our players and every player in the ongoing fight for equality. This is bigger than the game, and we will continue to be allies to our players in the fight to end systemic racism. #BlackLivesMatter,” PUMA stated, and adding the names of the victims, “Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Atatiana Jefferson, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, Ariane McCree, Terrance Franklin, Michael Dean, E.J. Bradford Jr., Jamee Johnson, Antwon Rose, Stephon Clark, and too many more. #BlackLivesMatter[.]”
Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Atatiana Jefferson, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, Ariane McCree, Terrance Franklin, Michael Dean, E.J. Bradford Jr., Jamee Johnson, Antwon Rose, Stephon Clark, and too many more. #BlackLivesMatter
— PUMA Basketball (@PUMAHoops) August 26, 2020
The statements from the sports brands arrive after sports leagues and athletes refused to participate in their respective games in solidarity with the BLM movement. It began when the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic walked away from their playoff game on the 26th of August after Jacob Blake was brutally shot, followed by news of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers voting an early end to the NBA season and tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from her semifinals match at the Western & Southern Open.
Jacob Blake