These are vitally important times for the Raptors in the greater context of society, in Canada and in their homes around the world. They have examples to set and issues to address that go far beyond sports. And those issues demand action both immediately and in the long term.
“Racial injustice is not just happening in America, it’s happening worldwide,” Raptors forward Norm Powell, born and raised in California, said this week. “And I think the focus has been on the United States but, for us, it’s been a privilege to be the only team in Canada and to have that platform and to speak out about the inequalities and injustices Stateside and in Toronto and Canada as a whole.