Sports Teams and Gun Violence Awareness

Being a sports fan can come with its share of disappointments, but some teams are now adding to that with decisions off the field. While various franchises are acknowledging Pride Month, a few made a different statement by bringing attention to gun violence, aligning with Everytown’s National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

The Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Eagles are among those participating in this initiative, encouraging fans to “wear orange.” This campaign seems to be drawing a divide as both teams have struggled in recent seasons— the White Sox have faced over 100 losses in the last three years, and the Eagles have not advanced in the playoffs recently.

Today is Gun Violence Awareness Day. The White Sox are committed to finding innovative solutions to gun violence. We are proud to support these organizations and their efforts to build safer communities.

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox)

Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. #wearorange Today and this weekend, we honor the lives of people in the United States who have been affected by gun violence.

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles)

It feels a bit like these teams are turning their backs on their dedicated fan bases by endorsing gun control measures that many supporters might not agree with. Unfortunately, they’re not alone in this venture.

Everytown has stated that they have gathered participation from teams across various professional leagues, including MLB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and soccer leagues. Their partnership with the sports community aims to amplify this message.

In a way, these franchises might be better served focusing on their athletic endeavors rather than engaging in political discourse. Let’s keep the sporting world about sports.