LeBron James, Billie Jean King, Sage Rosenfels… Many former and current athletes as well as sports organizations spoke out on social networks on Friday about the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to annul the judgment Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right of American women to abortion.
Posted at 7:01 p.m.
NBA and WNBA commissioners Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert notably signed a joint statement, saying that “women should be able to make their own decisions about their health and their future” and that “liberty must be protected”. .
“We will continue to advocate for gender and health equity, including ensuring our employees have access to health care, wherever they are,” it read.
Earlier in the day, the WNBA Women’s Players Association (WNBPA) issued a lengthy statement in which it argued that the decision “shows a branch of government that is so out of touch with the country and any sense of dignity human”. “Are we in a democracy where guns have more rights than women?” she asks. […] To protect our democracy, we must vote as if our lives depended on it. Because it is. »
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared several posts on his Twitter account about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on black women. “It’s absolutely about power and control,” he insists.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King wrote that the ruling “will not end abortion,” but rather “safe and legal access to this life-saving medical procedure.” “It’s a sad day in the United States,” she adds.
In a series of tweets, former NFL quarterback Sage Rosenfels argues that Roe v. Wade will have “enormous negative consequences for women, half of whom live below the poverty line”.
“It’s not about saving unborn babies. It’s a matter of men controlling women,” he writes, among other things.
“It was a group of extremely religious white men who elected perhaps the most sinful white man in America, who then selected three other white people to overturn a law that primarily affects poor black and brown people” , can we read in another tweet.
Current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray says “no one should be able to force their beliefs on someone else’s body.” ” It’s not correct. I send love to our women. »
“To the women of this country…I’m sorry,” also wrote Josh Hart, who plays for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.
teams clash
A few sports teams have also made known their disagreement with the Supreme Court’s decision. Of the lot, the Orlando City SC, in MLS, which “deeply opposes it”.
“We are motivated to continue using our platform to raise powerful voices and take action in our community,” the team writes. Defending human rights is a battle we will continue to fight, both for those who are impacted today and for those who will be targeted in the future. »
Similarly, the organization of the Seattle Storm, in the WNBA, says it is “furious and ready to fight”.
Gotham FC, which plays in the North American Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), says “abortion must not only remain legal, it must be made affordable and accessible across the country. »
“Restricting the bodily autonomy of individuals by forcing patients to travel hundreds of miles to overcome inequitable barriers will have a disproportionately harmful impact on communities of color and other marginalized groups who already face barriers to health care,” adds the New Jersey organization.