We are heartbroken by recent events and the history of racial injustice that has ripped our country apart in extreme and appalling ways. We condemn the actions and the individuals responsible for the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless other African American citizens whose lives have been brutally taken.

As an organization devoted to sport that holds community engagement as one of its core values, we are actively involved in ongoing conversations about race and inequality. We continually turn to the empowering words of Nelson Mandela to understand the importance and reach of our work.

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers."

The unity we as Americans are able to accomplish on the field, in the locker room and in the stands is a unity we are capable of bringing to the streets, to the workplace, and all areas where we stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Americans.

We are a team, and we must all work harder to hear each other, stand up for what is right, speak out about injustices, and unite our communities.