• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Cleveland Pro Teams Form Alliance to Address Social Injustice

  • The Cavaliers, Browns and Indians are coming together to address social injustice facing Cleveland and all Northeast Ohio communities.
  • The alliance says it is built on the community’s “emotional connection” to the Cleveland team.
Cleveland Pro Teams Form Alliance to Address Social Injustice
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Less than 24 hours after the Milwaukee Bucks set up a historic day in sports by striking before their Game 5 playoff against the Orlando Magic, leading to ripple effects across the MLB, WNBA, MLS and more, the professional teams in Cleveland announced an alliance that aims to address some of the issues at hand.  

The Bucks’ demonstration was in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 23. In a statement, the team asked the Wisconsin state legislature to reconvene to take action after “months of inactivity.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns said their partnership will concentrate on “social injustice facing the city of Cleveland and all Northeast Ohio communities.” That will include working to “improve the relationship” between law enforcement and citizens, encourage non-partisan voting activities, and increase access to quality education. 

Leaders from each team are involved, including Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff; Browns General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski; and Indians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti, General Manager Mike Chernoff and manager Terry Francona.

“We understand the platform our organization has to make a positive impact on these important issues,” Berry said in an announcement. “When Coach Stefanski and I began discussing how we might be able to elevate and broaden that impact by expanding the dialogue to our counterparts in Cleveland, it quickly became apparent that partnering with the other teams in our city would help our region come together so we can collectively address the problems that we’ve all been working to help solve independently.”

The group says it will also eventually partner with community and civic leaders and minority organizations to “address issues impacting the individuals they represent.”

“The social and economic disparity in our community reveals some ugly truths, and Coach Bickerstaff and I are honored to be at the table to address these issues with such a prominent group of our peers,” Altman said. We never take for granted our place in the fabric of Cleveland and hopefully our coming together inspires others to join us.”

Via their ties to LeBron James, the Cavaliers have an indirect history of social justice efforts. During his most recent stint with the team, James founded the I Promise School — a public elementary school specifically aimed at at-risk children — and has contributed millions of dollars to educational costs for Akron students, including free tuition at the University of Akron.

James also led the effort for Cleveland players to wear shirts reading “I Can’t Breathe” before a 2014 game following the death of Eric Garner.

Latest Sports Arena Voting Rights Initiative Secures 7 Facilities

Latest Sports Arena Voting Rights Initiative Secures 7 Facilities

On the heels of LeBron James-founded coalition More Than A Vote securing…
August 19, 2020

The new alliance says it is built around the community’s emotional connection to the Cavaliers, Browns and Indians.

 “While the circumstances that highlighted the need for this partnership are disheartening, Tito, Mike and I are excited by the opportunity to work with such a thoughtful and diverse group of leaders to identify opportunities to be a positive force for change,” Antonetti said. “There is a lot of work to do, and we believe that this partnership will serve to amplify our collective impact.”

The Indians’ involvement in the alliance comes as the team is facing criticism for its continued use of its nickname. The baseball team already discontinued the use of its culturally appropriative “Chief Wahoo” mascot after the 2018 season.

The Washington Football Team dropped its racist moniker towards Native Americans during the 2020 NFL offseason, after decades of reluctance and pushback. 

In July, Francona was asked about the name issue, and said it was time for his team to “lead and not follow.”

“I’m of an age where I know just what we’ve always done isn’t appropriate all the time and being old enough to listen and try to learn even at an advanced age, is what we need to do, and we need to be sincere,‘” Francona said. “We need to live it.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
exclusive

Fox Extends Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson Contracts Ahead of NFL Season

Changes are coming at Fox, but Andrews and Thompson stay put.
Jul 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park.

MLB ASG Missing Many Highly Paid Stars, Clearing Path for Youth

Many of MLB’s top earners are not part of the Midsummer Classic.
Jonas

Jonas Valančiūnas Is Cryptic About Nuggets Standoff in Lithuania

The Nuggets expect Valančiūnas to honor his NBA contract. 

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Dewanna Bonner
July 8, 2025

DeWanna Bonner Signs With Phoenix Mercury After Fever Saga

Bonner will rejoin the franchise where she won two titles.
Enzo Fernandez
July 8, 2025

Chelsea Players Hawk Club World Cup Tickets on Instagram As Prices Plunge

The semifinals are set for weekday afternoons in New Jersey.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 7, 2025

How Bradley Beal Buyout Would Save Suns $230M, and What’s Next

Beal has two years and $110 million remaining on his deal.
July 7, 2025

An FSU Amateur Golfer Beat the World’s Best—but Can’t Accept $79K Prize

Top-ranked amateur Lottie Woad won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
July 6, 2025

WNBA All-Stars Will Earn $2,575 for Playing in Game

The WNBPA is in the midst of negotiations for a new CBA.
July 6, 2025

Unrivaled Co-Founders Deny Conflict of Interest With WNBPA Leadership

The WNBA and its union are negotiating a new CBA.