“Upon verification of the recent audio recording purportedly of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the National Urban League urges National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver to take swift and strong disciplinary action against Sterling for remarks that go beyond being ‘offensive and disturbing’ to blatantly bigoted. The opportunity before Commissioner Silver to take an uncompromising stand against any form of prejudice in the NBA is unprecedented in the league, but certainly not without example in sports.
The NBA must demonstrate that its strict ethical conduct policy goes deeper than player conduct or code of dress or owner fines and suspensions for referee criticisms or salary-cap violations. Commissioner Silver’s immediate obligation and responsibility should be, at minimum, to suspend Sterling for this offense, but to also set a tone for the kind of behavior that will not be allowed in the NBA moving forward. Sterling’s most recent apparent comments are only the latest in a widely-known pattern of racial intolerance and bias. Sterling’s 18th century views have no place in modern-day America or in our sports – and thus, in the NBA or as part of the Los Angeles Clippers franchise.
Commissioner Silver has a responsibility to the NBA, its players, fans, coaches, owners and partners to do what is in the best interest of the league to protect its brand and thus remove anyone or anything that is not aligned with what it represents. This includes placing a lifetime ban from the NBA on Donald Sterling.
The sentiments attributed to Sterling and expressed in the recording have never held a respectable place in American history and certainly have no place in our present or future as we aspire to become the nation we have always had the potential to be.”
