Professional athletes protest police shooting of Jacob Blake

By Mike Hayes, Rob Picheta and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 11:45 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020
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8:52 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

New York Mets and Miami Marlins leave field as game is set to begin

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Ahead of Thursday’s scheduled game between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins at Citi Field in New York, the players for both teams left the field after observing a 42-second moment of silence. 

MLB is scheduled to observe Jackie Robinson Day on Friday to honor the color-barrier-breaking Hall of Famer, who wore number 42.

The Mets starting defense took the field as scheduled, then the remaining players for both teams came out of their dugouts and a moment of silence was observed. Afterwards all players left the field.

Miami Marlins player Lewis Brinson laid a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt over home plate before leaving the field.

It was later announced that the Marlins–Mets game was the seventh MLB game to be postponed on Thursday.

8:51 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Baltimore Ravens demand arrests of officers who killed Breonna Taylor and shot Jacob Blake

From CNN's David Close

Julio Cortez/AP
Julio Cortez/AP

The Baltimore Ravens is calling for social change and are demanding accountability in light of recent incidents of police violence.

The team laid out specific action points in a statement on Thursday, including a call for the police officers “responsible for Breonna Taylor’s killing and the shooting of Jacob Blake" to be arrested and charged.

The team's statement said it will use the franchise’s platform to unite and enact positive change.  

"This is bigger than sports. Racism is embedded in the fabric of our nation’s foundation and is a blemish on our country’s history. If we are to change course and make our world a better place, we must face this problem head-on and act now to enact positive change," the statement said.

The team also called for requiring body cameras, banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants and establishing "a framework to prohibit racial profiling at federal, state, and local levels," according to the statement.

7:19 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Baltimore Orioles game postponed tonight as players choose to not to play

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

Tampa Bay Rays players warm up near a "Justice. Equality. Now." sign on the videoboard on Thursday, August 27, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tampa Bay Rays players warm up near a "Justice. Equality. Now." sign on the videoboard on Thursday, August 27, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Chris O'Meara/AP

The Baltimore Orioles will not play against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight after Orioles players decided to join other athletes in solidarity against social injustice and systemic racism, the team has announced.

The Orioles–Rays game is the sixth Major League Baseball game postponed tonight.

The Orioles full team statement reads:

“After continued reflection and further dialogue, Orioles players have decided to not play tonight’s game against the Rays as they join athletes around the country in expressing solidarity with victims of social injustice and systemic racism.”

 The Tampa Bay Rays then issued the following statement:

“Like the Orioles, our team struggled with the decision of whether to play this evening. The decision was made not to play, and we stand firmly with all those fighting for social justice and to end systemic racism.”

7:07 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Michigan National Guard will be sent to Wisconsin to support public safety

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is sending two National Guard companies to Wisconsin to support public safety.

“Michigan’s dedicated National Guardsmen and women have played a vital role to keep Michiganders safe in recent months during the pandemic, and they were a key factor in ensuring peaceful protests in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor earlier this summer,” Whitmer said in a statement released by her office Thursday evening.

7:08 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Teen faces 2 homicide charges in Kenosha shootings

From CNN’s Andy Rose and Omar Jimenez

The 17-year-old boy accused of shooting people in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a protest this week now faces five felony charges.

Kyle Rittenhouse is charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of first-degree reckless homicide, according to a court document filed Thursday in Kenosha County. The shootings killed two people.

Rittenhouse also is charged with a count of attempted intentional homicide and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. Additionally, he faces a misdemeanor charge of being in possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18.

Rittenhouse turned himself in to police in Antioch, Illinois, on Wednesday.

7:47 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Jacob Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed, family says

From CNN’s Sara Sidner

Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer has been handcuffed to his hospital bed, his uncle tells CNN.

The 29-year-old’s father, Jacob Blake Sr., visited him in the hospital where he is recovering from his injuries and saw that his son had been handcuffed to his bed, Jacob Blake’s uncle, Justin Blake, said.

Jacob Blake Sr. held his son’s hand during the hospital visit and was “heartbroken that his son is handcuffed to his bed,” Justin Blake told CNN.

“This is an insult to injury. He is paralyzed and can’t walk and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why?” he added.

The news was first reported Thursday by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Representatives for Jacob Blake, the Kenosha Police Department, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kenosha District Attorney’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Froedtert Hospital, where Blake is being treated, deferred questions to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  

7:06 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Andrew Yang says he spoke to Jacob Blake's father: "Tell them my son is a human being"

From CNN's Karen Smith

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang tweeted Thursday that he spoke with Jacob Blake’s father.

Blake’s father told the businessman that his son has restraints on and questioned why he was shot so many times, Yang said.

“I just spoke to #JacobBlake Sr. – his son is conscious. His first question after he woke up was 'Daddy, why did they shoot me so many times?' He wept to his father. He has restraints on even though he can't move his legs,” Yang tweeted.

“When asked what message I could share on his family's behalf, #JacobBlake Sr. said to me, 'Tell them my son is a human being,'" Yang added.

Yang also shared a GoFundMe link for people to donate to Jacob Blake’s family.

6:44 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Colorado Rockies players will not play tonight

From CNN's David Close

The Colorado Rockies will not play the Arizona Diamondbacks as scheduled Thursday night after Rockies players decided to stand "in solidarity with athletes and sports teams against social injustice" and not take the field. 

"We stand with our brothers at the Rockies," the Diamondbacks tweeted tonight.

The Rockies-Diamondbacks postponed game is the fifth MLB game called off Thursday night.

"After reflecting and meeting as a group, Rockies players have decided not to play today’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, standing in solidarity with athletes and sports teams against social injustice," the Rockies statement said.

6:44 p.m. ET, August 27, 2020

Wisconsin state officials have spoken with Jacob Blake's family

From CNN’s Raja Razek

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, right,  and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, right, and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes WDJT

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said in a news conference Thursday that he and Gov. Tony Evers spoke with Jacob Blake's family. 

"Today, Gov. Evers and I had a moment to speak with Jacob Blake's family," Barnes said. 

They also met with some local elected officials and visited a couple of businesses in Kenosha, according to Barnes.