Minnesota pro sports teams delay games in response to Duante Wright killing
April 17, 2021
Last Sunday, the killing of Duante Wright, a 20-year-old unarmed Black man, by police in Brooklyn Center, Minn. sparked another nationwide outrage.
Wright was fatally shot during a traffic stop only a few miles from the place were George Floyd was killed by police last summer.
The officer involved, Kim Potter, who was identified as a 26-year police veteran, has since resigned.
According to a statement by the Brooklyn Center Police Department, Potter “accidentally” shot Wright when she mistook her gun for her taser.
On Wednesday, she was arrested and charged with second degree manslaughter but was released on bail Thursday.
The Minneapolis area and its surrounding suburbs were already back at the forefront of racial tension since the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer responsible for Floyd’s death, was taking place and continues to play out in the Twin Cities.
More protests ensued following Wright’s death and the demonstrations continued through the week, likely causing many from the Minneapolis area to have an uneasy feeling of déjà vu.
The tragic shooting had a significant impact on the sports world as well.
On Monday, all three of Minnesota’s professional sports teams, the Timberwolves, Twins, and Wild decided to postpone their scheduled games in the wake of Wright’s shooting.
The Timberwolves and Twins were able to make up their games the following day.
The Wild have rescheduled their game against the St. Louis Blues for May 12.
Timberwolves Guard Josh Okogie didn’t hold back his thoughts on the latest incident of police brutality.
“We need to keep having this conversation. It’s happening too frequent that a young 20-year-old kid gets killed not too far from where they’re having their trial for another black man getting killed. That shouldn’t happen — that just doesn’t make any sense,” Okogie said.
Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli released a brief statement on Wright’s death.
“I shouldn’t say there’s a disbelief, because I think we’ve seen these things happening around the country way too much. But it is very disappointing and very sad every time we see this,” Baldelli said in the statement.
Wild captain Jared Spurgeon addressed the situation at a Tuesday press conference.
“As a group and the team we thought it was the right thing to do. Obviously, the community and the city is going through some tough times and our wishes are with Daunte and his family,” said Wild captain Jared Spurgeon.