NBA Releases List of “Approved” Social Justice Platitudes for Players to Wear on Jerseys

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Jul 5, 2020
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James’ shoes are emblazoned with “EQUALITY” on both heels during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The National Basketball Association has approved a list of acceptable ‘social justice-‘ themed phrases that players will be permitted to wear on their jerseys during the upcoming season, allowing the league’s millionaire player base to repeat slogans largely associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.

The “approved” social justice phrases are, according to ESPN reporter Marc Spears:

Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can’t Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Sí Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Listen; Listen to Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.

None of the phrases include any reference to the protests in Hong Kong crushed by the People’s Republic of China, a curious omission in light of the league’s crackdown on Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey. Morey had expressed support of the Hong Kong pro-democracy and anti-Communist party demonstrations, only to be quickly silenced and castigated by league officials concerned that Morey’s remarks would cost them lucrative market opportunities in the communist country.

As major American sporting leagues degenerate into little more than a display of politically correct slogans and left-wing ideology, it remains to be seen if they’ll retain the cultural appeal they’ve traditionally had with a wide variety of politically and culturally diverse fans.