Ravens Owner STEVE BISCIOTTI pledged $1M for "social justice reform in the Baltimore area," according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Bisciotti said he is "shaken by the acts of racism that continue to overwhelm our society." Hensley noted a committee of current and former Ravens players "will determine which programs will directly benefit from the contribution." Biscotti: "Our players have been -- and will continue to be -- at the forefront of this change. We believe in their commitment to furthering social justice and invoking meaningful change" (ESPN.com, 6/1).
TAKING A STAND: In San Jose, Jerry McDonald notes the "last organization to employ COLIN KAEPERNICK stepped up Saturday." 49ers CEO JED YORK announced the organization is "committing to support the legislative priorities of the Players Coalition and to donating $1 million dollars to local and national organizations who are creating change" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 5/31).
STEPPING THINGS UP: In Memphis, Jason Munz notes the GRIZZLIES plan to "enhance established initiatives in the name of opposition to racism and injustice." The organization said that it "will make video recordings of previous 'Intersection of Race and Sport' symposiums available at Grizzlies.com in the coming days." The team also "will coordinate a series of virtual sessions for members of its longstanding mentorship program to discuss recent events and their effects both in Memphis and across the country." In addition, the Grizzlies said that they have "created a new category of paid time off to be used specifically in order to vote 'so that during local and national elections our staff will never have to make a decision between voting or incurring a financial loss'" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/2).
