In taking a stand against the Communist Chinese Party, Florida Rep. Michael Waltz (R) is leading a group of Congressional Republican colleagues in making a call for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Commissioner Adam Silver to stand against the CCP and its human rights abuses. Tension has risen between the United States and China regarding these concerns, and now Rep. Waltz is calling for Commissioner Silver and the NBA to reconsider its “decision-making.”
The Florida Republican issued a letter signed by numerous lawmakers, and in a statement, he praised the effort that also includes the support of Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio.
Waltz argued that “the NBA has been taking orders from the CCP for years and have allowed the CCP’s political ambitions to dictate the organizations’ decision-making.”
Citing the end of Enes Kanter Freedom’s time in the NBA, Waltz explained that “for over a decade, Kanter Freedom has spoken out against human rights abuses around the world, including standing up to Turkish President Erdogan, without punishment from the NBA. However, as soon as he spoke ill of the CCP and called attention to the genocide against Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang, the same free speech he otherwise enjoyed was no longer protected by the NBA.”
Waltz concludes that “the NBA is cherry picking which social and political demonstrations and athletes they are willing to support based on market opportunities.”
In a press release from Waltz’s office, an explanation of the effort's goal is provided. The lawmakers that signed the letter warn of "lack of action taken by the NBA" over the human rights abuses that the CCP commits. Moreover, the lawmakers question a possible "influence" the CCP might have over the NBA's business decisions.
As a result, the lawmakers call for Commissioner Silver to provide Congress with information over the NBA's plan to address these concerns.
