Gaddis, Sapong help forge the creation of Black Players Coalition
To mark Juneteenth, the celebration of full national emancipation from slavery in the United States, black players in MLS Friday announced the formation of the Black Players Coalition.
The stated purpose of the group is to “address the racial inequalities in our league, stand with all those fighting racism in the world of soccer, and positively impact black communities across the United States and Canada.”
More than 70 MLS players are part of the founding group. The initial 12-member board includes current Union defender Ray Gaddis and former Union striker CJ Sapong. Toronto FC defender Justin Morrow is the executive director.
“We pledge to help bridge the racial equality gap that exists in our league by lobbying for initiatives like implicit bias training, cultural education courses, and diversification hiring practices,” the statement said. “Beyond addressing these overlooked systemic issues around soccer in this country, the BPC is committed to tackling the racial injustices that have prevented black people from having an equitable stake in society. Among the many goals we will strive to achieve in our black communities, some will include targeted spending, educational advancement initiatives, and mentorship programs”.
MLS and the MLS Players Association both released statements in support of the organization, the MLSPA backing that endorsement with $75,000.
Gaddis posted the group’s statement to Instagram with the message, “there will be change.”
“More than athletes, our team is full of compassionate, intelligent leaders,” the Union tweeted from their official account. “We support Ray Gaddis as he joins the board in the newly created Black Players Coalition of MLS to bring more inclusion to MLS and elevate Black voices & communities!”
“As we celebrate Juneteenth and the coming together of our coalition, we must remind ourselves that such progressivism was once met with vehement backlash,” the coalition’s statement continued. “May this reminder serve as a warning to us all that confronting systemic racism head-on will never be a smooth, constantly upward trending path, but rather a timeless battle that will force us to reinvent the very essence of our institutions. We hope our organization can be an extension of our ancestors’ sacrifice for the next generation to live in a more equitable society as we seek to forge our own path forward under one united voice.”