Barack Obama Lauds Milwaukee Bucks, NBA For 'Setting Example' In Protest Against Wisconsin Shooting

Former President Barack Obama expressed his admiration towards the NBA and Milwaukee Bucks for setting up the blueprint for activism in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“I commend the players on the (Milwaukee) Bucks for standing up for what they believe in, coaches like Doc Rivers, and the NBA and WNBA for setting an example. It’s going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values,” Obama wrote on Wednesday as he posted a clip of an emotional Rivers delivering a statement about racial equality and justice during a post-game interview inside the Orlando bubble.

Senator Bernie Sanders likewise lauded the league, as well the WNBA and MLB, which immediately followed suit by suspending their respective games to join the call for change.

“I strongly support the NBA, WNBA, and MLB players who are striking for racial justice. Real change takes place when people come together and demand it. It is time for the police who shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back to be fired, arrested and prosecuted. Now,” Sanders wrote.

The Bucks decided to boycott their playoff game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday afternoon to demonstrate their protest against the brutal shooting in Wisconsin, which left Blake, a 29-year-old unarmed Black man, paralyzed.

“The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African American communities. Citizens around the country have used their voices and platforms to speak out against these wrongdoings,” the Bucks said in a statement.

“Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protestors. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.”

The act coerced the NBA to postpone the rest of the playoff games during the day with the latest reports stating that Thursday’s schedule is about to be called off as well.

The Lakers and Clippers have voted to scrap the season after a meeting on Wednesday night ended “ugly,” Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium bared.

A follow-up report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, however, said that dialogue among players will continue Thursday morning as the vote from both Los Angeles squads was deemed “more of polling, than a final vote.”