OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Several members of Congress are joining together in a new letter which encourages NBA superstars to back Hong Kong protestors against Chinese oppression.
In the letter, which is addressed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, congressional members including Democratic Congressman Tom Malinowski, Republican Senator Ben Sasse, Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Republican Senator Tom Cotton, Republican Congressman Jim Banks, and Republican Senator Ted Cruz said that they “are writing to express our deep concern about the NBA’s and Houston Rockets’ recent statements apologizing for Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s tweet in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.”
“It is outrageous that the Chinese Communist Party is using its economic power to suppress the speech of Americans inside the United States,” the lawmakers continued in the letter.
The letter was sent to Silver as several NBA superstars are apologizing for Morey’s statement and many others are steering clear of any criticisms towards the Chinese government.
“NBA players have a rich history of speaking out on sensitive topics of social justice and human rights inside the United States, and the NBA takes pride in defending their right to do so. Yet while it is easy to defend freedom of speech when it costs you nothing equivocating when profits are at stake is a betrayal of fundamental American values,” the letter reads.
“You have more power to take a stand than most of the Chinese government’s targets and should have the courage and integrity to use it,” the lawmakers said in the letter.
Check it out:
👏"You have more power to take a stand than most of the Chinese government's targets and should have the courage and integrity to use it."
– Letter to @NBA from @Malinowski @SenSasse @RepGallagher @RonWyden @AOC @TomCottonAR @RepJimBanks @tedcruz #StandwithHK #HKHRDA pic.twitter.com/G9EAd459CP
— Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong. (@Stand_with_HK) October 10, 2019
Republican Senator Marco Rubio addressed the ongoing Chinese control over the NBA and its members in a tweet where he said people were being fired in America over their anti-Chinese government comments.
“Imagine living in a world in which not just entertainers & athletes but non-public figures can be fired by an employer or kicked out of a sporting event by a team, here in America, for condemning the actions of the govt of China,” Rubio said. “No need to imagine it. It’s already happening.”
Imagine living in a world in which not just entertainers & athletes but non-public figures can be fired by employer or kicked out of sporting event by a team, here in America, for condemning the actions of the govt of #China
No need to imagine it. It’s already happening.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 10, 2019
Read the full letter below:
