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May 2, 2014 (Sacramento) - Assembly Member Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) issued the following statement in response to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine against Donald Sterling:
“NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the right call in imposing the maximum fine and a lifetime ban against Donald Sterling today.
“Sterling’s intolerant, ignorant, and bigoted views have no place in a league where 76% of players and 43% of coaches are African American.
“This incident should wake us up to the sad reality that views like Sterling’s—or Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy’s—still exist, and still cause great harm. We cannot ignore these incidents.
“I chair an Assembly committee tasked with helping men of color reach their fullest potential. I represent a racially and economically diverse district which includes the Clippers home offices. And I am a person of color myself. This incident hits close to home and I know what damage racism still causes today.
“Sterling justified his racism on the tape by saying ‘we live in a culture [and] we have to live within that culture.” Mr. Sterling is finding out today that our culture no longer tolerates hateful bigotry. The league sponsors who dissolved or suspended their business relationships with the Clippers, and the reaction of the general public, have made that point loud and clear.
“I thank the commissioner for his swift and decisive action against Sterling. I look forward to the vote of the league’s owners to remove him as an owner. And I wish the Clippers the best of luck as they continue their series at Staples Center tonight.”
Assembly Member Steven Bradford represents the 62nd Assembly District, comprised of the cities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Inglewood, and El Segundo, and the communities of North Gardena, Westchester, Venice, and Del Rey, and parts of Westmont and Park Mesa Heights, and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). www.assembly.ca.gov/bradford
The views and opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of the East County Magazine. Rebuttals or comments are encouraged by contacting the editor for consideration in posting at: editor@eastcountymagazine.org.
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The NBA supports racism