Quakes follow suit, postpone home game

Major League Soccer players opted not to play five games — including the match between the Earthquakes and Portland in San Jose — Wednesday night in a collective statement against racial injustice.

The players’ action came after all three NBA playoff games were called off in a protest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday night.

“The San Jose Earthquakes organization stands with the Black community, our players, the Bay Area and the nation in the fight against injustice and inequality,” the Earthquakes said in a statement. “We support out players’ decision to not play tonight’s match in an effort to shed light on the racial injustice in our country. We will continue to use our platform to make change.”

In their statement, the Timbers said: “The Portland Timbers stand in support of our players and their decision not to play tonight. Racial injustice and police brutality against Black people in our country must end now.”

In addition to those from the Quakes and Timbers, players from games between Atlanta United and Inter Miami, FC Dallas and Colorado, Real Salt Lake and LAFC, and the LA Galaxy and Seattle all decided not to play in solidarity.

The lone match played was between Orlando City and Nashville SC.

Atlanta United released a statement before its scheduled game against Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The players all gathered on the field before the game, arm in arm.

“We stand in solidarity with the Black community, with our players, our city and our fans in the fight against injustice,” the statement said. “We must use our voices to be the change.”

Earlier in the day, Major League Soccer issued a statement about the shooting in Kenosha.

“MLS unequivocally condemns racism and has always stood for equality, but we need to do more to take tangible steps to impact change. We will continue to work with our players, our clubs and the broader soccer community to harness our collective power to fight for equality and social justice.”