"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -MLK #WewillNOTbesilenced #BlackLivesMatter @WNBA pic.twitter.com/F3gZTx6fIi— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) July 23, 2016
More WNBA teams refused to accept the league's decision to fine three teams (Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty, and Indiana Fever) earlier this week over wearing black warm-up shirts to protest recent deaths due to gun violence.
The Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm were both undeterred as the two squads also expressed resentment to the league's move.
Per multiple reports, the Mystics wore black warm-up shirts before their game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.
Per Gene Wang of the Washington Post:
"Mystics players wore “Black Lives Matter” T-shirts as they entered Verizon Center for their game on Friday night against the Los Angeles Sparks and indicated they would continue voice opinions on social issues despite the league fining teams and players that have made similar gestures.
“The deaths that have occurred from police brutality over the years, it’s not going anywhere,” Mystics starting point guard Natasha Cloud said before the game. “For us, this is our season, this is our platform, so we’re going to continue to use it whether the WNBA supports us or not.”"The Mystics also staged a media blackout, refusing to answer questions related to the game.
The Mystics wore #BlackLivesMatter shirts on Friday & took part in a WNBA "media blackout" https://t.co/hJpPQbvqin pic.twitter.com/1nakZ4JR6z— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) July 23, 2016
According to Lindsay Gibbs, Mystics forward Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, whose cousin was killed three years ago due to gun violence, was one of the players who spearheaded the move.
A cop killed Ruffin-Pratt's cousin the day she made the @WashMystics. She helped organize the team's media blackout. pic.twitter.com/3js1kLOhCm— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) July 23, 2016
Ruffin-Pratt made the teams' BLM shirts. She teared up when talking about her cousin, said she will honor him by being part of the change.— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) July 23, 2016
In Minneapolis, members of the Seattle Storm simultaneously posted on Twitter a powerful message as they likewise refused to remain silent regarding the recent deaths due to gun violence.
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" -MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/utjcNjOveU— Breanna Stewart (@bre_stewart30) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" - MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/s3Od7E2MfJ— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/51A39TIrUO— Monica Wright (@monnie22) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter https://t.co/q8etvd8RYg— Jenna O'Hea (@JennaOHea) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal"--MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/wF8epyBkky— Alysha Clark (@Alysha_Clark) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/jkznnbNPoK— Jewell B Loyd (@jewellloyd) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" -MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/hYiHxuhxsZ— K.Mosqueda-Lewis (@kaleena_23) July 22, 2016
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal"- MLK @wnba #WewillNOTbesilenced#Blacklivesmatter https://t.co/1twDRO6mGh— crystal langhorne (@crystalanghorne) July 22, 2016
The Storm also wore black shirts prior to their game against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, and likewise refused to answer questions after the game, per Excelle Sports.
Breaking out of Seattle: Storm join Liberty, Fever and Mystics in #WNBA media blackout postgame, only answer questions on #BlackLivesMatter— Excelle Sports (@ExcelleSports) July 23, 2016
Per Tim Faklis, fans inside the Target Center even chanted "Black Lives Matter."
A "Black Lives Matter" chant starting here at Lynx/Storm at the Target Center.— Tim Faklis (@timfaklis) July 23, 2016
Cops assigned to a Lynx game once walked out when the Lynx wore black warm-up shirts in one of their games earlier this month.
Protesters also flocked the streets of Seattle for their own "Black Lives Matter" rally.
Via Komo News:
"Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Seattle for several hours on Thursday night.The Liberty and Fever boycotted interviews last Thursday following the fines ($5,000 for the team and $500 each player) handed out by the league.
The group chanted "Black Lives Matter" and waved signs as they blocked traffic on busy roads during the evening rush hour, forcing King County Metro buses to be rerouted."
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