“The time is always right to do what is right.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
New York (June 1, 2020) — The fight for equality is the very cornerstone of the Women’s Sports Foundation. We stand with the Black community, and with every person who faces injustice and oppression due to the systemic racism that prevails in this country. Our hearts mourn for the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor, and for every family that has lost a loved one due to senseless violence and insidious bias. We will not be silent.
The walk, run, and bike ride that we promote as a means to stay physically and mentally healthy, is an assumed liberty for all. And yet, there are members of our society who cannot enjoy these simple freedoms. Things must change.
The Women’s Sports Foundation will continue to play a role in the fight for racial equality, gender equality and all forms of social justice, to not stay silent in the coming days, weeks, years, or however long it takes. How can we advocate for girls and women to receive equal access to sports and physical activity, if they are not treated as equal citizens in our country? We are teammates in sport and in life.
Sport has always had the powerful ability to unify humanity; to embrace and include, to admire and respect, to inspire and call to action. We will work closely with our family of Trustees, athletes, community programs, coaches and leaders to ensure that we lead with empathy and compassion and stand for what is right.
As Dr. King made clear, the time is always right to do what is right. It is up to each of us to listen, learn and strive to understand all members of our society. To see everyone’s value and humanity – equally.
