Conference of Mayors President Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has convened a panel on sports, race and politics. Throughout our history, sports has played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights – from Jackie Robinson integrating baseball to Tommie Smith and John Carlos taking a stand at a 1968 Olympics medal ceremony. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s swift and decisive response to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racially charged comments makes clear that in today’s society there is no place for institutionalized racism. Through this interactive conversation, panelists will discuss discrimination in professional sports, the social and political implications of the Donald Sterling situation, and the opportunity for sports to be an agent of change.
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