Clippers’ Doc Rivers disputes Senator Josh Hawley by letter

The Clippers’ videoconference on Saturday began with Lou Williams who said his trepidation over the season’s restart during the national social justice protest, which once made him feel “50-50” about reuniting with the team, was made comfortable when her classmates voted “were about to come in a group.”

It ended with a powerful message from coach Doc Rivers to Senator Josh Hawley (R – Missouri), who criticized the NBA’s choices in allowing social justice messages on player shirts and “Black Lives Matters” to be field paintings for games.

Hawley wrote a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Friday stating that the league had “gone beyond the penalty line for specific political messages.” He asked why the list of approved messages did not include “Back the Blue” or “Support Our Troops”.

Rivers got mad at that.

“There is no league that does more for the NBA military,” said Rivers. “What do you say, Senator? I’ll do a challenge: we’ll do things for the troops as long as they recognize #BlackLivesMatter. I think it would be really nice for him to do.

“You know, it’s fun, every time we talk about justice, people try to change the message. Colin Kaepernick kneels …. It has to do with social injustice and everyone has tried to change the narrative. How about staying on what we’re talking about and dealing with it instead of trying to deceive or change or deceive your constituents? How about being real?

“I guarantee you that we have done more for the military than that senator probably did. And I guarantee you: we will also do things for #BlackLivesMatter. And he? Maybe it should join that. “

Rivers said striker Kawhi Leonard arrived in Orlando on Friday evening and would have adhered to the 36-hour quarantine protocol before testing could begin on the campus of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Leonard will soon join the rest of his teammates, including Williams, who had reservations about the restart.

The sixth veteran man was a supporter of social reform, pledging even $ 25,000 towards bonds for Atlanta protesters in May.

“We spoke as a team and decided that our decision would be all or none,” said Williams. “So once we sat down we had a conversation, we decided to vote and we only had more things in common and we decided that we would come in a group.

“And so, I am part of the group. I have many thoughts and ideas about the things I have heard strongly about the staff. But I represent a group. I represent an organization that ultimately led to my decision. “

Rivers said the organization “pushed” players to make the decision as one. And it was decided that competing for a championship and using their platforms and voices to talk about social issues were worthy causes.

This, and the NBA that decided to paint “Black Lives Matter” on the field and allow players to have social justice messages on the back of their shirts, made it easy for Williams to join the Orlando Clippers.

“Yes, that’s the progression,” said Williams. “I am happy to know that I work for a company that stands alongside the minorities in this country and I want to make a bold statement like that. Obviously they have a lot of sponsors and everything related to sponsorships and some people may not feel that way, but I thought it was important for the NBA to listen to the players, listen to our voices and set in motion the things that we felt strongly and they stand by us with these problems. So I was really happy. “