The Sacramento Kings are partnering with the city’s local Black Lives Matter chapter with the goal of investing in Black youth.
The announcement came Thursday, days after a Kings game was interrupted by protesters in the wake of the shooting death of Stephon Clark. Demonstrators delayed the start of the second game on Tuesday night.
The sports team will also be coordinating a multi-year effort with Build. Black. Initiative, another local campaign focused on fighting for social and racial justice, USA Today reports. According to the Sacramento Bee, their first event will be a forum on Friday.
The Kings are also creating an education fund for Clark’s two kids.
“This fund cannot fix the issues that led to the death of their father,” read a statement about the partnership. “But it will secure opportunities for their future while the family and the city grapples with healing.”
“This tragic death really humanized something that’s been felt deeply in this community for a long time, something that’s been brewing,” Build. Black. Coalition. spokeswoman Darcy Totten said. ”Our goal is to fundamentally transform the conditions that led to the death of Stephon Clark, because those conditions are systemic.”
