April 29, 2014

Civil Rights Leaders Applaud NBA Ban of Los Angeles Clippers Owner
By Frederick H. Lowe and Hazel Trice Edney

(TriceEdneyWire.com and TheNorthStarNews.com) - The National Basketball Association has announced it has banned Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, for life from the league because of racist comments he made to V. Stiviano, his African-American and Mexican girlfriend. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also announced that he will try to force Sterling to sell his team. In addition, Silver fined Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount the league can fine a team owner.

Silver took the action after confirming that it was Sterling's voice on a tape, telling Stiviano that he did not want her hanging around blacks in public or to bring blacks to Clippers games. The website TMZ first broadcast the tape last weekend. Deadspin, a sports website released a longer version of Sterling's comments. 

Members of the Clippers protested Sterling's comments last weekend before a playoff game with the Golden State Warriors. Several of the Clippers corporate sponsors withdrew their support.

Sterling is immediately barred from attending any NBA games and practices. And he cannot participate in business or player personnel decisions involving the team. 

Silver said, "This league is far bigger than any one owner, any one coach and any one player."

The banning comes after a flurry of controversy over the racist remarks made by Sterling during an argument with his girlfriend, V. Stiviano. As soon as the story broke, the NAACP cancelled its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, slated to have been given to Sterling for his charitable giving to children’s organizations.

Among Sterling’s alleged comments during the April 9 recording as released by gossip website TMZ: "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with Black people. Do you have to?” He also said, “Don't come to my games. Don't bring Black people and don't come."

Silver’s April 29 announcement of the tough punishment was applauded by the civil rights community.

“As an organization of over 30 franchises, with predominantly African-American players (approximately 80 percent), the NBA has made great strides in diversity and inclusion,” said Barbara Arnwine, president/CEO of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:  It boasts having elevated some of the first African-American team coaches, executives and owners, and became the first major North American men’s league with an openly gay player this year.  Sterling’s record of racist incidents indeed blemishes this trend and his punishment was not superficial.”

The NAACP has requested a meeting with Silver as a follow up to the decision.

Saying the decision is “both welcomed and supported,” the NAACP release said, “We have requested a meeting with NBA Commissioner Silver to discuss the influence and impact of racism in the National Basketball Association. Additionally, we will be developing guidelines for our units to help them in their award selection process and prevent unfortunate decisions like this from occurring in the future.”

National Action Network President Al Sharpton called the banning “a bold and appropriate action” and a “huge victory for those of us that stood against this ugly display of racism.”

But, he agrees there is need for policies to prevent such situations in the future.

“We must continue to make unequivocal stands against bigotry and racism,” Sharpton said. “I look forward to speaking to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and beginning the dialogue with other civil rights leaders right away to discuss putting in measures to make sure this never happens again.”