NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Titans postponed Thursday morning’s practice after the team held discussions with players in the wake of multiple professional sports teams boycotting games and practices following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, WKRN reported.
The team told News 2 Head Coach Mike Vrabel and players will still participate in interviews later Thursday.
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their games Wednesday in light of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
Wednesday, the Bucks boycotted game five against the Orlando Magic in response to the shooting of Blake.Local law enforcement leaders meet to discuss strategy in light of Kenosha riots, violent protests
The NBA then announced all games have been postponed in the wake of the Bucks’ decision not to play, WKRN reported. All three games between the Bucks-Magic, Lakers-Trail Blazers, and Thunder-Rockets will be rescheduled.
Wednesday night, the Bucks as a team came out of the locker room and delivered a statement to the media about their decision to boycott the game.
“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.”
The Brewers followed the Bucks and did not play against the Cincinnati Reds.
The team released a statement from both teams that read:
“The players from the Brewers and Reds have decided to not play tonight’s baseball game. With our community and our nation in such pain, we wanted to draw as much attention to the issues that really matter, especially racial injustice and systemic oppression.”
Authorities named the officer who allegedly shot Blake in Kenosha on Sunday. Officer Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran with the Kenosha Police Department, shot Blake, 29, while holding onto his shirt after officers first unsuccessfully used a taser and as Blake leaned into his vehicle during.
State agents later recovered a knife from the driver’s side floorboard of the vehicle, the release said. A search of the vehicle located no additional weapons. No charges have been announced and the state Department of Investigation continues to investigate.Trump sending federal assistance to Wisconsin following Kenosha protests
A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, WKRN reported.