Kings make pledge to black community and issue ‘Call to Action for White People’
Current and former members of the Kings organization joined thousands of protesters Saturday in one of the largest demonstrations in Sacramento’s recent history, marching downtown streets in support of Black Lives Matter.
The Kings took another big step in their advocacy of social justice issues Tuesday, making a “Pledge to Our Black Community” to help combat racial injustice and invest in meaningful change. The team said it was announcing the new initiative in solidarity with communities across the country, continuing the organization’s commitment to influence social and systemic change to address institutional racism.
The Kings also released a new PSA, entitled “A Call to Action for White People,” calling for unity and action following the death of George Floyd, who died while being subdued by a Minneapolis police officer. The two-minute video, made in collaboration with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and Sacramento Area Youth Speaks, features players from all three teams, including De’Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley III, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. Others speakers include Kings general manager Vlade Divac, Kings coach Luke Walton, Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders, and former Kings players Bobby Jackson and Doug Christie.
Jackson helped organize Saturday’s march, which was promoted as “A Peaceful Protest for Our Rights.” The march started at Golden 1 Center and ended at Cesar E. Chavez Plaza. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive addressed thousands in the crowd, saying: “We have just one message — Black Lives Matter.”
The Kings’ pledge to the black community includes plans to invest in violence prevention; foster economic equity in Sacramento; partner with the Lynx and Timberwolves to host the third Team Up For Change summit; and promote civic engagement by hosting voter registration workshops and providing paid time off for employees on election days.
