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The NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS took a stand against systemic racism and police brutality by boycotting games on Wednesday in response to the police shooting of a black man in Kenosha, Wis.
The wave of boycotts and postponements was sparked by Milwaukee Bucks players’ responding to the shooting of Jacob Blake by refusing to come out of their locker room on Wednesday afternoon for a playoff game against the Orlando Magic. Two more NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday night were also postponed, inspiring players in other leagues to follow and causing professional basketball, baseball and soccer games to be called off because athletes would not participate.
In Major League Baseball, three games were called off: the Milwaukee Brewers hosting the Cincinnati Reds, the San Diego Padres playing the Seattle Mariners, and the San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers game.
Five matches in Major League Soccer were postponed Wednesday after players objected to playing.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka said she would not play in a scheduled semifinal at the Western & Southern Open in New York,
