Mariners, Sounders Games Postponed As Protest Movement Grows

SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle Mariners game against the San Diego Padres and the Sounders match against the LA Galaxy were postponed Wednesday, as players moved to join a growing number of professional sports teams protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The Kenosha police shooting has led to civil unrest in the city, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee and 65 miles north of Chicago, for the past three nights. Late Tuesday, two people were killed and a third injured by gunfire during a protest. Police have arrested a 17-year-old teenager on suspicion of homicide.

The Milwaukee Bucks refused to take to the court Wednesday for Game 5 of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic, kicking off a protest action that soon reverberated across sports leagues. The Bucks released an official statement on Twitter late Wednesday afternoon, saying in part:

"Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we've seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protesters. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball."

Following the Bucks decision, matchups between Houston and Oklahoma City and Los Angeles and Portland were also postponed, along with all three regular-season games scheduled in the WNBA, according to the Associated Press.

The first Major League Baseball game to be postponed was a match-up between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds after both teams reached a mutual decision not to play.

The Seattle Mariners were scheduled to play the San Diego Padres at 6:10 p.m. Wednesday at Petco Park. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported a small group of players from both teams met with each other, shortly before the Mariners players voted to join the protest.

As ESPN reports, the Mariners have the most Black players of any team in the league. Shortly after the decision, several players shared their thoughts on Twitter.

In Major League Soccer, all games not already underway were postponed, several sports journalists reported early Wednesday evening. The Seattle Sounders were scheduled to face the LA Galaxy at 8 p.m. MLS later confirmed all five matches postponed Wednesday would be rescheduled for a later date.