Pat Riley, Micky Arison, among others featured in Miami Heat’s social justice pledge video
When discussing the battle against systemic racism, social injustice and police brutality, Erik Spoelstra said earlier this month that “the Miami Heat are all in on this fight.”
In advance of Friday’s virtual town hall with fans at 4 p.m. on Juneteenth — a holiday on June 19 that recognizes and celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States — the Heat detailed how it would jump into the fight during a two-minute video released Friday morning featuring members of the front office and employees from around the organization.
Heat owner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison, president Pat Riley, general manager Andy Elisburg, vice president of basketball development and analytics Shane Battier, vice president of player programs Alonzo Mourning and Spoelstra were among those who made appearances in the video.
The Heat pledged to donate to organizations that are working to eradicate racial inequality, support education initiatives that serve the Black community and help more Black students attend college, provide opportunities to Black students with its company mentoring and internship programs, support voter registration initiatives that make it easier for more people to vote, give all Heat staff paid time off on Election Day to vote, designate Juneteenth as a permanent paid holiday for employees of the organization, and partner with Black-owned businesses in the community.
Here’s the full transcript from the Heat’s two-minute video released Friday ...
Mourning: “Our country is at a crossroads in the battle against systemic racism.”
Micky Arison: “And we want to assure you that the Miami Heat will not sit on the sidelines.”
Spoelstra: “We will not stand for hate, racism or police brutality.”
Nicole Harris, Heat accounts payable manager: “There have been too many instances of abuse and excessive violence against our Black community.”
Riley: “We also know we can’t just talk about change. We must embody change.”
Eric Woolworth, Heat president of business operations: “This is our pledge to Heat Nation.”
Raquel Libman, Heat chief legal officer: “We pledge to make financial contributions to organizations working to rid the world of racial inequality.”
Battier: “We pledge to support education initiatives that serve the Black community and invest in scholarships to help more Black students attend college.”
Sonia Harty, Heat vice president of human resources: “We pledge to enhance our company mentoring and internship programs to provide opportunities for Black students to gain experience and advance their careers.”
Elisburg: “We pledge to support voter registration initiatives to ensure our neighbors can freely exercise their constitutional right.”
Cedric Brown, director of digital programs: “Change begins at the ballot box. So election day will now be a company day of civic engagement, with all Heat staff receiving paid time off to get out and vote.”
Basit Hasan, Heat arena group sales manager: “We pledge to observe Juneteenth as a company holiday and encourage our staff to learn, educate, reflect and have conversations about systemic racism.”
Lorrie-Ann Diaz, Heat vice president of business communications and social responsibility: “We pledge to partner with Black owned businesses in our community.”
Nick Arison: “We pledge to use our platform and resources to promote equality and social justice.”
Micky Arison: “But let us be perfectly clear, this is just the beginning. Our commitment is never-ending.”
Everybody to close the video: “Black Lives Matter.”
Friday’s video featuring members of the Heat front office came hours after the team released a powerful five-minute video on its social media platforms Thursday night offering perspectives from players regarding racial injustice. It offered a preview of the conversation that will take place during Friday’s town hall.
As part of the player video, here’s a look at some of the comments made ...
Kendrick Nunn: “With all the police brutality and racism going on in the world today, I’m feeling hurt, tired, fed up.”
Goran Dragic: “It really hurts to see what is going on.”
Kelly Olynyk: “I feel disgusted. Disgusted at how a group of human beings are being treated in this world.”
Udonis Haslem: “I think my goal right now in this situation is to continue to educate people. Educate people on racism, educate people on injustice, educate people on voting.”
Andre Iguodala: “There needs to be a lot of education given out to those who have been in a position of power, historically, in this country.”
Bam Adebayo: “We should, and I will, always, always tell people that Black Lives Matter. Because they do.”
Jimmy Butler: “It’s time for change. We will make a change. We will stand together.”
NBA employees are being given paid time off on Juneteenth for the first time, “with the opportunity to use the day to pause, further educate themselves and reflect on both the history and the current state of race in our country.” And nearly ever NBA team, including the Heat, is observing Juneteenth as an organizational holiday.
The 2019-20 NBA season is set to resume on July 30 amid the COVID-19 pandemic just outside of Orlando at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, with the Heat among the 22 teams that will take part in the restart. NBA players hope to use the resumption of the season as a platform to fight for racial equality, with the league and players discussing different ideas to bring attention to the movement and generate change.
In a memo recently sent to teams, the NBA said: “A central goal of our season restart will be to utilize the NBA’s platform to bring attention and sustained action to issues of social injustice, including combating systemic racism, expanding educational and economic opportunities across the Black community, enacting meaningful police and criminal justice reform and promoting greater civic engagement. We are in discussions with the Players Association to develop a comprehensive strategy on how the NBA, its teams and players can best address these important social issues and uniquely position our league to drive action and create meaningful and generational change.”
