Immediate Release: December 19, 2022
Contact: media@colorofchange.org

Color Of Change Calls on Incoming NCAA President Charlie Baker to Pay the Players
The nation’s largest online racial justice organization demands that the newly-selected NCAA president ends the exploitation of college athletes following complaint from the National Labor Relations Board

NATIONWIDE – In response to the US National Labor Relations Board’s plans to issue a complaint against the NCAA for violating US labor laws by deliberately misclassifying the employee statuses of college athletes, Vice President of Campaigns, Policy & Government Affairs Sakira Cook issued the following statement:

“We applaud the US National Labor Relations Board’s planned actions to hold the NCAA accountable for intentionally misclassifying college athletes to further increase the institution’s profit margins. The NCAA leverages an unchecked power to coax Black and brown athletes into placing their bodies and wellbeing at risk, without access to fair compensation, in exchange for limited opportunities to further their careers.

Incoming NCAA President Charlie Baker has an opportunity to change the trajectory of the NCAA’s dark and exploitative past by finally paying the players. Color Of Change also calls on President Baker to demonstrate his commitment to racial equity and economic justice by supporting Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) College Athletes’ Bill of Rights. The College Athletes Bill of Rights will guarantee that Black college athletes responsible for the NCAA’s sustained successes receive fair and equitable compensation for their contributions.”

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About Color Of Change:
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.