According to ESPN, the donation to a super PAC
supporting DeSantis' election campaign was discovered in recent
federal filings. A Magic spokesperson told ESPN the donation was
made May 19, with DeSantis announcing his candidacy thereafter.
The NBPA is at odds with a suggestion made by DeSantis that
Black people benefited from slavery. DeSantis spoke after
"Florida's State Academic Standards -- Social Studies, 2023"
were released. Page 6 of the standards suggest: "Instruction
includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances,
could be applied for their personal benefit."
"They're probably going to show some of the folks that
eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into, into
doing things later in life," DeSantis said last month.
The NBPA stated its objections.
"NBA governors, players and personnel have the right to express
their personal political views, including through donations and
statements," the NBPA said in a statement Thursday. "However, if
contributions are made on behalf of an entire team, using money
earned through the labor of its employees, it is incumbent upon
the team governors to consider the diverse values and
perspectives of staff and players.
"The Magic's donation does not represent player support for the
recipient."
The New Orleans Pelicans' Larry Nance Jr. gave his take on the
situation in a social media post Wednesday.
"So the @OrlandoMagic who have a majority black roster, a black
head coach, and a black GM decided it was a good idea to support
a man that claims that slavery had personal benefits for the
enslaved?" Nance posted.
The NBA released a neutral statement on the situation Wednesday.
"Team governors make their own decisions on the political
contributions they make and we respect the right of members of
the NBA family to express their political views," the NBA said.
The late Richard DeVos was the owner of the company that
purchased the Magic in 1991. He was the father-in-law of Betsy
DeVos, the former secretary of education under President Donald
Trump.
--Field Level Media
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