Canadian Football League employees want to see more action from commissioner Randy Ambrosie regarding representation of diversity.
According to Sportsnet reporter Arash Madani: Some in CFL circles I’ve spoken with are fed up with Ambrosie’s pandering on this issue. They point out Randy’s league executive has ZERO black representation; that he banished Teague Sherman + Jerome Messam on an accusation, yet welcomed Johnny Manziel b/c he’d sell tickets.
Madani responded to Ambrosie’s message on Twitter following Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, being shot seven times in the back from close range by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday, August 23.
Ambrosie wrote: We in the CFL stand with our players and athletes across North America when they say, and show with their actions and concern, that black lives matter. We will continue to work with CFLPA to fight racism in all of its forms. #BLM.
The commissioner spoke out against the death of George Floyd, which happened in Minneapolis on Monday, May 25. White police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes while he was handcuffed and restrained on the ground. The 46-year-old black man told Chauvin repeatedly: “I can’t breathe.” However, the pleas were ignored by Chauvin and it resulted in Floyd losing his life.
As we watch events unfold in the U.S. this weekend, the CFL has issued a statement condemning racism. It’s also important to acknowledge that our country has its own problems with race and our league’s history is far from perfect, even if it is marked by many firsts for black athletes and coaches. I cannot pretend, coming from a place of privilege, to understand what it feels like for those whose lives are marked by the racism they must face every day. But I can stand with them. And I always will,” Ambrosie stated.
The league has pushed its ‘Diversity is Strength‘ campaign since 2017, however, Madani’s sources want it to be improved and better represented among the high level positions in the CFL.
