Harry Edwards: Sociologist praises players, says they need to formulate a plan for further action.
Sociologist Harry Edwards has some history with sports and social justice — dating to his leading role in the Olympic Project for Human Rights and the protest by sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Games.
So, yes, Edwards has some thoughts on the remarkable events of the past 24 hours.
He spoke to The Chronicle on Thursday, and one idea he shared was NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball players refusing to participate in future games in Wisconsin until state leaders enact substantive change in the wake of Sunday’s shooting of Jacob Blake.
A police officer shot Blake, a 29yearold Black man, in the back seven times in Kenosha, Wis., sparking a wave of professional sports teams choosing to sit out games Wednesday night, led by the Milwaukee Bucks.
“If the stars of the Bucks,” Edwards said, “or LeBron James and Steph Curry — if athletes of this magnitude show up at the attorney general’s office in Wisconsin and say, ‘We made it here this time, but we may not make it back to the airport, because we could be stopped and shot. So what we’re asking, what we’re demanding, is change. We’re saying, Stop killing us.’
“If you have that kind of star power, with (Commissioner) Adam Silver and the owners and the rest of the players behind them … even if it comes down to saying, ‘We’re not playing any more games in Wisconsin.’ If they went in there right after breakfast, they’d have action by lunchtime.”
Edwards, a longtime 49ers consultant and professor emeritus at Cal, spoke with several NBA players Wednesday night and Thursday morning. He also talked to some coaches, he said, and a couple of owners.
His essential message: Form a strategic plan to generate change.
“They have to sit down and get everyone around the table: networks, sponsors, ownership,” Edwards said. “How can we leverage the power we have? Of course, the focus is on the Bucks and the situation in Wisconsin. That would be a place to start.
“Does the league want to marshal all of its leverage and influence in Wisconsin? They may not impact the George Floyd situation in Minnesota or Breonna Taylor, but they could model possibilities by drilling down in Wisconsin. Everyone has to be on the same page to apply pressure.
“If the owner of the Bucks calls the governor of Wisconsin, he’s going to pick up the phone. If you have stars on the Bucks go into the mayor’s office in Kenosha, and say, ‘We want change,’ it will have an impact.”
Edwards, 77, is a San Jose State alumnus. The school founded the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change in 2017 to recognize Edwards’ and San Jose State’s long history of seeking social justice.
Pro athletes were increasingly outspoken after Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer in May. Now they seem even more engaged in issues beyond sports.
“They’re not all in the same place, but they’re moving in the same direction,” Edwards said. “I’m encouraged by the fact they’re taking the stand they’re taking. I’m encouraged by the fact they sent the message. These are not people in the socialjustice business. They’re in the business of winning games.”