While Major League Baseball could be on the verge of returning if team owners and the Players Association can settle their disputes, the overarching focus across the country has shifted elsewhere in recent weeks.
After George Floyd was killed at the hands of a police officer in Minnesota, thousands have come together to join the Black Lives Matter campaign, fighting for the end of racial injustice and police brutality.
Many Los Angeles Dodgers players, as well as the organization, have spoken up since Floyd was killed, about their commitment to the cause. Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier as a member of the Dodgers, of course, so their fight for racial equality has been ongoing for decades.
Those efforts continued this week when MLB players came together to put out a video statement in support of Black Lives Matter. Mookie Betts and David Price were involved, as were former Dodgers Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Dee Gordon and Curtis Granderson. Dodgers prospect Errol Robinson was among those to share the video on social media:
One Team. One Dream. #Players4BLM pic.twitter.com/73wQGWpIc9
— Errol A. Robinson (@therealerob_6) June 16, 2020
It is good to see that the players are speaking up for something they are passionate about and using their platforms to inspire change.
While negotiations between the owners and players for the 2020 regular season may not be going well, at least everyone in baseball is united in the fight for racial equality, which ultimately is a lot more important at this time.
Betts and Price have not been in the Dodgers organization for long, but they have already proven to be tremendous people off the field in addition to All-Stars on it. Betts recently helped distribute masks to people in need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, while Price used his own money to pay Dodgers Minor Leaguers who likely won’t have a 2020 season.
Those are just a few examples of the awesome work Betts, Price and other Dodgers players are doing in the community during this rough year.
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