ABIS Founder Praises “Full-Court” Press Leading to Release of Brittney Griner
Statement by Gary Charles-Founder, Advancement of Blacks in Sports
It has been a long ten months for WNBA superstar and two-time Olympic medalist Brittney Griner. Since that time, Griner was held in Russia on drug charges stemming from the discovery of two vaping cartridges containing hashish in her luggage. Griner received a nine-year sentence, which President Biden described as “unjust” and “intolerable circumstances.” Griner was recently released into U.S. custody as part of an exchange involving a Russian arms dealer named Viktor Bout, also known as the Merchant of Death. According to The New York Times, Bout was convicted in 2011 by a New York jury of several counts, including conspiracy to kill American citizens. The exchange would arguably not have happened without the determination of Brittney Griner’s family members, teammates, friends, and other supporters to keep Griner’s plight on the national agenda.
Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, was understandably among the most outspoken individuals fighting for Brittney Griner’s release. Cherelle appeared to have the full backing of many players, coaches, and administrators in the WNBA and the NBA. Even college coaches engaged to keep Brittney Griner’s ordeal in the nation’s consciousness. College coaches, like Coach Dawn Staley, Head Coach of Women’s Basketball at the University of South Carolina, are just one example. Coach Staley posted almost daily about how long Brittney Griner was held in captivity in Russia and joined other voices calling for her release. WNBA fans and supporters of justice more broadly kept the pressure on traditional media outlets and elected officials to question and act on Griner’s situation, through social media and by using their high-profile platforms regardless of the consequences. Their willingness to mobilize others and tackle the tough challenge of seeking Brittney Griner’s freedom was not in vain.
“Today is a day of celebration,” commented Gary Charles, Founder of Advancement of Blacks in Sports(ABIS). “Brittney Griner is a step closer to being back on American soil where she belongs,” added Charles. “ABIS was so pleased to see the unwillingness on the part of so many individuals and organizations to give up on Brittney Griner’s case,” remarked Charles. “It took a full court press from lovers of fairness, justice, equity, and humanity to make the exchange happen. This points to the need for ongoing agitation and good trouble to address racial inequities in sports both on and off the fields of competition,” Gary Charles added. “We look forward to welcoming Brittney home and hope she receives all the support she needs to advance and thrive,” concluded Charles.
The mission of Advancement of Blacks in Sports is to connect and inspire to boldly advocate for racial equity and social and economic justice for blacks in sports.
For more information about ABIS, visit:https://weareabis.org/
About the Author New York Trend is a weekly news publication that focuses on issues and lifestyles of the African & Caribbean American communities throughout the New York metropolitan area and Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island. It is a respected and well recognized news publication that has been in existence since 1989. Owner, Publisher and Executive Director, Dr. Teresa Taylor Williams has been at the helm of this award-winning publication since its inception. New York Trend continues to be the only black woman-owned, metropolitan newspaper in New York and Long island. New York Trend is the largest black-owned newspaper throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. |