‘Let them play!’ Dozens rally to resume public high school sports in NYC
“Let them play!”
That was the clarion call Saturday as dozens rallied in four boroughs demanding the return of public high school sports in the city – which have been sidelined by the pandemic for nearly a year.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, told roughly 60 people gathered at the Barclays Center that “sports does not spread coronavirus. If we do this right, we can allow these sports to continue.”
“Too many people who are making these decisions have never picked up a ball, never picked up a bat, never made a sprint, never exercised, never made a decision on how to play a good game. It’s time for us to listen to the people who understand the quality of our children, and they’re saying it loudly and clearly: let them play!”
Students are back on the playing field in some parts of New York after Gov. Cuomo lifted a statewide ban on higher-risk school sports. The catch: It’s up to local officials to greenlight the games and in the city, there are deafening sounds of silence from the decision makers.
“How dare you allow organized sports in the outer counties but you lock it down in New York City!” Adams said.
Nicole Bartholemew-Gordon, 36, whose 10th Grader plays football at New Utrecht High School, said anytime her son has been taken away from sports, it has made a significant difference in his life.
Pre-pandemic, her son’s life was all about “school work, it was sports, it was a brotherhood, it was a team, that was his life.”
“Without sports, we’re closing the window of opportunity for kids to get into academic institutions in college. In some cases, we’re permanently closing the opportunities,” said George Lanese, 46, co-founder of About U, the organization which organized the rallies.
“If you were to look around the rest of the state, 57 counties have sports. There’s only five counties that have no sports at all, and that’s New York City. Why can they do it everywhere else but not here. It doesn’t make sense what’s going on right now,” he added.
Said Lincoln High School football coach Shawn O’Connor, 50, “It’s affecting their motivation in school, their motivation for college. Sports opens doors for them.”
“Not having that has hurt a lot.”
Harlem resident Khordae Sydnor, 17, plays defensive end at Iona Prep and is committed to Purdue University next year. He didn’t have a fall season. He said sports is an outlet for city kids and an avenue where one can focus on branching out and “pursuing your dreams…”
In addition to Brooklyn, rallies were held outside The Bronx Supreme Courthouse, Ocean Breeze Park on Staten Island and Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica, Queens.