‘National Beijing Association’: Marsha Blackburn asks NBA to donate money it fines players to human rights causes

Originally Published July 29, 2020, 04:09 PM
by Dominick Mastrangelo, Social Media Producer
Washington Examiner

Sen. Marsha Blackburn urged the National Basketball Association to use profits from the league’s relationship with China to create a foundation dedicated to protecting human rights around the world.

“If Adam Silver does not extricate himself from the Chinese Communist Party, then the NBA is going to become the National Beijing Association in about 10 years,” Blackburn said in a video posted to her Twitter account on Wednesday.

Blackburn, one of the most prominent critics of China in Congress, sent a letter to Silver, the NBA commissioner, late last month questioning the league’s relationship with the country.

“While the NBA has worked hard to raise awareness of social issues at home, there is concern that the league has turned a blind eye to human rights abuses committed abroad—even bowing down to pressure last year,” Blackburn’s letter said. “The actions of the NBA and some players have created an appearance that your league prioritizes profit over principle.”