Pro sports teams postpone games following police shooting of Jacob Blake

The Milwaukee Brewers postponed Wednesday’s baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, joining the Milwaukee Bucks and other NBA teams to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“The Milwaukee Brewers organization joins the players in their decision to not play tonight’s game,” the team said in a statement. “We need to pause and reflect on the events that are causing such pain and hardship to our local community and country. The entire organization is committed to putting the spotlight on racial injustice, inequality and the necessity for change.”

Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back at least seven times by a White police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The shooting has sparked protests in Kenosha throughout the week. Blake is paralyzed from the waist down, his father said.

The San Francisco Giants also confirmed  on Twitter that Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers had been postponed.

The Seattle Mariners also tweeted that they will not play Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres.

“Given the pain in the communities of Wisconsin and beyond following the shooting of Jacob Blake, we respect the decisions of a number of players not to play tonight. Major League Baseball remains united for change in our society and we will be allies in the fight to end racism and injustice,” MLB said in a statement.

All three NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed, with players around the league choosing to boycott in their strongest statement yet against racial injustice.

“The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games — Bucks vs. Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers — have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled,” the league said in a statement.

The dramatic series of moves began when the Bucks didn’t take the floor for their playoff game against the Magic. The teams were set to begin Game 5 of their series shortly after 4 p.m., with the Bucks needing a win to advance to the second round.

Players had been discussing boycotting games in the Disney bubble in Florida after Blake’s shooting in Kenosha, 40 miles south of Milwaukee. More discussions among players on teams still in the bubble were scheduled Wednesday, presumably on how — or if — to go forward with the season, but even before that the Bucks apparently decided they would act.

“Some things are bigger than basketball,” Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry tweeted. “The stand taken today by the players and (the organization) shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change.”

The NBA Players Association tweeted out in support of players.

—CNBC’s Jabari Young and The Associated Press contributed to this report