Bucks boycott Game 5 against Magic in wake of Jacob Blake shooting
ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS 58/AP) -- The Milwaukee Bucks have boycotted Game 5 against the Orlando Magic Wednesday, Aug. 26 -- according toa report from ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski.
This comes after a police shooting in Kenosha left a man named Jacob Blake seriously hurt.
The #Bucks are boycotting today’s Game 5 after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) August 26, 2020
The teams were set to begin Game 5 of their series shortly after 4 p.m. EST, with the Bucks needing a win to advance to the second round.
Ultimately, the Bucks never left the locker room for the start of the game.
The #Bucks are boycotting today’s Game 5 after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) August 26, 2020
More discussions were expected Wednesday, but even before that the Bucks apparently decided they would act. Magic players and referees were on the floor for the game but Milwaukee never took the floor.
The Bucks released the following statement Wednesday evening:
“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.
“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 protesters. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.
“When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort and hold each other accountable. We hold ourselves to that standard, and in this moment, we are demanding the same from our lawmakers and law enforcement.
“We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable. For this to occur, it is imperative for the Wisconsin State Legislature to reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality and criminal justice reform. We encourage all citizens to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action, and remember to vote on Nov. 3.”