IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 283 

Condemning racism in sports. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 2, 2019 

Mr. ESPAILLAT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning racism in sports. 

Whereas racism has historically influenced the infrastructure 

in major sporting industries since its inception, after the 

2016 election there seems to be a reemergence of racist 

rhetoric in global, national, and local discourse, and 

sports are not immune to this troubling trend; 

Whereas the roots of racism in sports date back to their genesis, and perhaps no example of clearing racial hurdles 

compares to the story of Jackie Robinson who was the 

first African American to break the so-called color line to 

play in all-White Major League Baseball as a member of 

the Brooklyn Dodgers and whose sacrifice and perseverance in the face of such visceral hate in response to his 

participation is remembered as a historic triumph for African Americans; 


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•HRES 283 IH 

Whereas Willie O’Ree became the first Black player in the 

history of the National Hockey League playing for the 

Boston Bruins, earning the mantra as the ‘‘Jackie Robinson of hockey’’, and is still active in promoting diversity 

in the sport; 

Whereas policy enhancements, such as the Rooney Rule in 

the National Football League (NFL), have progressed inclusion and diversity in sports leagues and would potentially have a significant impact if applied to organizations 

in other industries; 

Whereas accounts of both blatant and subtle racism have justifiably captured the attention of fans when publicly disclosed in years past, and the recent hateful and 

unapologetic tropes cast by public figures, particularly 

the President, have elevated the issue of racism in sports 

to a national discussion; 

Whereas the University of Florida has recorded 52 acts of 

racism in sports in 2018, an increase of 11 compared to 

the previous year; 

Whereas internationally the number of instances of racism in 

sports more than doubled in 2018 compared to the prior 

year; 

Whereas within the last month the Utah Jazz, of the National Basketball Association (NBA), levied a lifetime 

ban against a fan who deliberately and repeatedly called 

NBA star Russell Westbrook ‘‘boy’’ leading up to a game 

in Salt Lake City, Utah; 

Whereas athletes in several sports leagues who were initially 

inspired by NFL player Colin Kaepernick chose to exercise their constitutional right by abstaining from participating in the national anthem to shed light on the killing 


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•HRES 283 IH 

of unarmed Black men by police officers and the widespread injustices that minorities still face; 

Whereas xenophobic, misogynistic, and racist rhetoric should 

not be condoned in any circumstance, a basic value that 

has been ignored by the President when he aims hateful 

comments at athletes of color in his public comments on 

the internet and at rallies; 

Whereas the President’s behavior seems to have had a spillover effect on others who now feel enticed to propel racism and hate speech in the name of sports rivalries; 

Whereas players like Russell Westbrook have received fines 

for responding to fans’ racist, threatening, or antagonistic comments; 

Whereas racism has been documented as a lingering problem 

in some locker rooms over the years, and closeted racism 

has recently become an issue at the ownership level; 

Whereas Donald Sterling, who had owned the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, was captured on tape making denigrating, 

racist comments about African Americans and NBA legend Earvin ‘‘Magic’’ Johnson, Jr.; 

Whereas the media’s role in advancing racial undertones and 

race-based expectations continues to be latent, such as 

when Serena Williams, who is hailed as the best female 

tennis player of all time, received racially charged press 

coverage for her passion and drive described as ‘‘outbursts’’, while her White colleagues often do not receive 

such criticism for similar displays of passion; 

Whereas debate has sparked around the Cleveland Indians 

and Washington Redskins for their use of logos viewed 

as racist, demeaning, and inconsiderate; 


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•HRES 283 IH 

Whereas the Washington Redskins owner has refused to entertain the idea of changing the name of the team, while 

the Cleveland Indians announced the decision to remove 

their controversial team logo from all uniforms but continue to sell merchandise emblazoned with the logo; 

Whereas the continued success of athletes of color over the 

years has led to a series of successes by players, including former NFL quarterback Doug Williams’ success 

winning a Super Bowl, shattering the construct previously subscribed to by NFL coaches and scouts, and diminishing the negative, inaccurate connotations previously held against African-American quarterbacks; 

Whereas, during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, FIFA imposed 

penalties against Russia for its fans’ racist behavior 

aimed at France’s players of color; 

Whereas because the popularity of sports has a wide reach 

that expands demographics, sports have a unique potential to steer the conversation around discrimination and 

racism; 

Whereas sports have always been based on the principle of 

a level playing field in which achievement is not based on 

race, ethnicity, or religion, but simply on a player’s ability; and 

Whereas major sports leagues have sought to expand diversity and invest in communities of color, but there is still 

more work to be done around altering the public discourse on race and racism: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 


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•HRES 283 IH 

1 (1) athletes have the right to exercise their con2 stitutionally protected right to freedom of speech; 

3 (2) racism in sports must be combatted and un4 equivocally condemned; and 

5 (3) public officials should use their platform to 

6 encourage diversity in sports and highlight role mod7 els for young members of minority communities. 

Æ 


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