The Heat launched a new playoff campaign, “United in Black," that the team "hopes will help make a difference beyond the basketball court," according to Anthony Chiang of the MIAMI HERALD. The team sees the campaign as part of an “ongoing initiative to fight for social justice and take the next step in its pledge supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.” Heat CMO Michael McCullough: "We just saw an opportunity to use the playoffs as a platform to continue the dialogue around social justice and racial inequity." The Heat will wear the "Icon Edition Miami Black uniforms as both the home and road team as much as possible throughout the playoffs." As part of the campaign, Heat players also will "wear 'United in Black' shooting shirts during pregame warmups" and throughout their first playoff game tomorrow against the Pacers. While the team competes at Disney, the front of AmericanAirlines Arena "will include a Black Lives Matter banner." The Heat have used a team color as the center of every playoff campaign since '04. The organization has "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" and support voter registration initiatives (MIAMI HERALD, 8/15).
