Black Lives Matter Movement Sets Sights on PawSox Ownership With Protest on Thursday
GoLocalProv News Team
Black Lives Matter Movement Sets Sights on PawSox Ownership With Protest on Thursday
Following recent actions on Federal Hill, BLM organizer Gary Dantzler said that they put the PawSox in their sights for “never doing anything for the community.”
“Rich people came in and sucked the life out of the poor people,” said Dantzler.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 2017, GoLocal reported PawSox Owners Combined Would Rank as 10th Richest Owner in Sports
The event is scheduled for 10 AM on Thursday.
Leaving After Asking State for Millions -- Then Getting Federal Funds
GoLocal reported in 2017 on the PawSox' nearly all-white staff and ownership -- as it contrasted with the City of Pawtucket, as the billionaire owners sought millions from taxpayers to stay in Rhode Island.
"It is two different worlds," wrote GoLocal "One world is the ownership of the PawSox that has been well-reported by GoLocalProv to have a net worth of an estimated $8 to $10 billion, and their 32 full-time staff members — both the ownership and the staff -- who are all white. The two part-time radio announcers are white too."
READ: 2 Worlds: All White PawSox Owners & Staff, Asking Pawtucket - 40% Minority & Poor - for Millions
"The other world is the City of Pawtucket. It is one of the state's most economically distressed cities with a growing minority population — now roughly 40 percent."
The owners ultimately took their ball and decided to move the team to Worcester. But not before getting federal coronavirus assistance.
As GoLocal reported in May, "PawSox Receive Small Business Funds Under PPP Via Federal Stimulus."
The Pawtucket Red Sox are one of the recipients of federal small business funds under the Payroll Protection Program, GoLocal has confirmed.
The PawSox ownership group is comprised of a group of men who are multi-millionaires and billionaires, including a corporate entity tied to the team's parent company that owns the Boston Red Sox.
The team confirmed in a statement to GoLocal, “The loan facility is being used by minor league teams all over America, and it enables us to avoid furloughs and/or payroll reductions, as is intended by the legislation."
Owners, Community - and Worcester
“I’m generally a positive person. It takes a lot for me to be negative,” Dantzler told GoLocal. “They didn't affiliate themselves with African Americans and the community -- we've wanted a relationship for years."
The current season was due to be the last for the Pawtucket club, before the team moves to Polar Park, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
In its announcement of its final years in Pawtucket in 2019, the PawSox touted what the say had been a strong community relationship in Rhode Island, with plans for the same in Worcester.
But for Dantzler — and the Black Lives Matter organization — it has fallen short for the Black community, and BLM plans to take action in Worcester.
“We have an affiliation with BLM [in Worcester] said Dantzler. “We’re going to work with them up there.”
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” said Dantzler of community organizing. “This is COVID season. We’re dying out here. We need resources -- you can't just blow us off. There could have been fundraisers -- more with the community -- there are more organizations and people of color that could have been brought in.”
On its Facebook page, the PawSox recently highlighted the HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc. as part of its “Bristol County Savings Bank Paws for a Cause,” as well as a recent visit to Blackstone Valley Community Health.
The PawSox organization did not respond to request for comment on the BLM action planned.