Vivek putting his money where his mouth is. rest of the league need to step up

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article207256604.html

The Sacramento Kings will set up an education fund for the children of Stephon Clark and begin working with local groups leading protests around Golden 1 Center, the team announced Thursday morning.

Activists have blocked off the Kings' arena for the team's past two home games in protest of the Sacramento Police Department's March 18 shooting of Clark, who was armed with what police thought was a gun but was later determined to be a cellphone.

The protests thrust Sacramento's Black Lives Matter group back into the spotlight and prompted the formation of Build. Black. Coalition, which operates under the slogan "this is a movement, not a moment." The Kings are working on a multi-year partnership to promote African American education with the Build. Black. Coalition, and said in a media release the team would work with Black Lives Matter without offering specifics.

"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. 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."

Kings players Vince Carter and Garrett Temple and retired guard Doug Christie are scheduled to appear at an event titled "Kings and Queens Rise: A Youth Voice Forum for Healing" at 5 p.m. Friday at South Sacramento Christian Church. Sacramento Area Youth Speaks will then lead an intensive writing seminar at 5:30, according to the release.

The announcement represents a potential breakthrough after days of tension that have disrupted a City Council meeting, blocked traffic throughout downtown Sacramento and set the city on edge. Police plan to beef up security for the Kings' 7 p.m. game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, knowing protesters will be shouting outside District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert's office mere blocks away and could migrate to Downtown Commons. The Kings met with Mayor Darrell Steinberg, law enforcement and community leaders Wednesday to figure out how to get fans past the protesters.

The Kings' agreement with Black Lives Matter and other organizations could help temper potential unrest at Thursday's game and beyond.

"I think this is a very logical, proactive and thoughtful response," said Andy Dolich, a sports-management consultant and former Golden State Warriors executive. "This shows tremendous knowledge of their local scene and the ability and the desire to do something about it and not just be a spectator."

The Kings had attempted to forge an alliance with protesters after the first disruption at Golden 1 Center a week ago, which left the Kings playing to a near-empty arena. Christie and Team Chairman Vivek Ranadive met with a protester and players wore warmup T-shirts bearing Clark's name at their next home game, last Sunday. But troubles surfaced again Tuesday after hundreds of protesters left the City Council meeting and blocked the entrance to Golden 1 Center shortly before the game against Dallas started. About 4,000 fans were able to get inside.

Besides Black Lives Matter, other groups that have signed onto the new agreement with the Kings include Voice of the Youth, the Urban League and NAACP. All groups will be feeding into Build. Black. Coalition, Totten said.

At Friday's event, food trucks will dish out complimentary food for kids, who can get to the event for free via Sacramento Regional Transit if they come from one of the seven neighborhoods with the highest rates of African American child death in the county. Carter, Temple and Christie will also be joined by leaders from the local NAACP chapter, Black Lives Matter movement and other race-related organizations.

Clark’s funeral is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bayside Boss Church and will include comments from Rev. Al Sharpton and Imam Zaid Shakir, who led Muhammad Ali's funeral service.

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