NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 19: Ja Morant speaks to the media ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 19, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Ja Morant writes a letter asking for the removal of a Confederate statue.
NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant is seeking to spark change in the city of his alma mater.
Morant sent a letter to a Kentucky judge on Thursday. In the letter, the Murray State alum asked for the removal of a Confederate statue in downtown Murray, Kentucky. Morant spent two seasons playing for the Murray State Racers before entering the 2019 NBA Draft where he was selected second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.
“I want to introduce myself to you and share my concern about a symbol of white supremacy, racism and hate on display in the community. I am writing to ask that you immediately remove the Confederate statue in the court square of downtown Murray,” Morant wrote in the opening paragraph.
The surrounding area of the Murray State campus felt like home, Morant said. Not only was he able to accomplish his dream after enrolling in the college, he also became a pillar in the community.
”Murray felt like a second home from the minute I stepped on campus,” Morant said in the letter. “It is full of people, families and students from all different backgrounds. As a young Black man, I cannot stress enough how disturbing and oppressive it is to know the city still honors a Confederate war general defending white supremacy and hatred.
”Given recent events and the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s necessary to act now. We can’t change the culture of racism unless we change the celebration of racism. Please help us take a stand and remove this symbol of hatred and oppression.”
In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement kicked up after Minneapolis resident George Floyd was murdered at the hands of police. NASCAR decided to ban Confederate flags at all events and on all properties. Organizations such as the Minnesota Twins have made commitments to address systemic racism along with donating $25 million towards the cause. Morant, 20, now seeks to continue the movement in the city that surrounds his college campus that enrolls nearly 11,000 students.