The New York Jets released a statement on Wednesday following the death of George Floyd, waiting to speak out until after a Monday team meeting about the unrest surrounding Floyd's death, as well as Tuesday's #BlackoutTuesday movement:
"Yesterday, we spoke with our silence – but today we share our thoughts that have influenced and affected us following the death of George Floyd and every other person that has lost their lives in these senseless acts of violence," the statement said in its opening. The full statement:
Statement from the New York Jets: pic.twitter.com/HXdDUItKyf
— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 3, 2020Teams and players throughout the New York sports community have issued statements about the unrest surrounding Floyd's death last week, notably including Pete Alonso, Giancarlo Stanton, Jamal Adams, and Derek Jeter.
A look at how New York's major professional sports teams have spoken out:
New York Giants: "George Floyd's senseless death is the type of tragedy we have seen too often for far too long. Over the past week, our players and coaches have talked about the hurt, the pain, the frustration and the anger."
Statement from the New York Giants: pic.twitter.com/OomJPGDY7I
— New York Giants (@Giants) June 2, 2020New York Yankees: Although the Yankees have not released an official team statement per se, several players have spoken out, and the team took to Twitter to quote Nelson Mandela on Tuesday:
Statement from the New York Mets. pic.twitter.com/bUaDqR11fH
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 1, 2020New York Mets: "Queens, NY is one of the most diverse areas of the country. We take pride in our diversity. It is our strength. That is why we denounce all forms of racism and discrimination."
Statement from the New York Mets. pic.twitter.com/bUaDqR11fH
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 1, 2020New York Islanders: "We condemn racism and injustice and stand with all affected by senseless violence. We must come together, treating each other with empathy, dignity, and respect."
#UnitedAsOne pic.twitter.com/XUmXIanRKf
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 1, 2020New Jersey Devils: "We understand that the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center are important communal assets and we are committed to using that stature to promote meaningful changes in our communities and our country."
Statement from the Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, New York Liberty, and Barclays Center. pic.twitter.com/HFlYU1HHvC
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 31, 2020Brooklyn Nets: The Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, and New York Liberty issued a joint statement signed by senior management of all three franchises that began, "We mourn the senseless and devastating loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others who lost their lives because of racial bias."
Statement from the Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, New York Liberty, and Barclays Center. pic.twitter.com/HFlYU1HHvC
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 31, 2020New York City FC: "We stand against discrimination and racism in all its forms."
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) May 31, 2020New York Red Bulls: "We stand against all acts of racism, hatred and prejudice. We will always support and promote equality."
We stand against all acts of racism, hatred and prejudice. We will always support and promote equality. https://t.co/aTRJ702enb
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 31, 2020Sky Blue FC: "Sky Blue FC and our players strive to represent the diversity of our communities and promote equality."
— Sky Blue FC (@SkyBlueFC) May 31, 2020Neither the New York Rangers nor the New York Knicks issued a statement, as Madison Square Garden head James Dolan reportedly wrote in an email memo to all MSG staffers that they would remain silent, saying that, "we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters."
