Karl-Anthony Towns Named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Finalist

Minneapolis-St. Paul – In the present day, the NBA introduced Minnesota Timberwolves ahead/heart Karl-Anthony Cities is a finalist for the 2023-24 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. The annual award honors a present NBA participant for pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s values of equality, respect and inclusion.

 “I’m extremely humbled to be named a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion finalist,” mentioned Cities. “Being an advocate for equality and utilizing my platform to advance causes closest to my coronary heart and supporting these most marginalized is essential to me.”

For the previous 12-18 months, Cities has performed a pivotal position within the passing of Invoice HF28 – Minnesota’s Restore the Vote invoice, permitting previously incarcerated people the appropriate to vote alongside each different eligible voting Minnesotan. Cities used his platform and voice in help of the invoice, whereas additionally spotlighting points associated to mass incarceration. Cities gave his time, taking part in neighborhood conversations and assembly with key organizations, together with the Minnesota Freedom Fund, New Justice Challenge, Minnesota Justice Analysis Heart and All-Sq., who helped shepherd the invoice by the legislature. 

In effort to boost consciousness round Restore the Vote and encourage others to take motion on the polls, Cities participated in a Neighborhood Dialog hosted by native nonprofit All Sq.. All Sq. is a driving power behind “The Authorized Revolution,” a motion to remodel the regulation with these most impacted by it. Cities’ work with All Sq. is an instance of how he absolutely embodies and embraces what it means to be a social justice advocate – connecting, being current and assembly the neighborhood the place they’re at, creating change.

Cities’ advocacy resulted within the passing of Invoice HF28 into regulation in July 2023, following Minnesota Governor Walz’s approval in March 2023, permitting greater than 50,000 Minnesotans who have been beforehand incarcerated or on parole, the appropriate to forged their vote. The regulation marked the most important growth of voting rights for the reason that voting age in Minnesota was lowered to 18 years outdated.

Cities’ profitable advocacy round Restore the Vote was solely the start; it was a momentum starter getting into a important presidential election 12 months. Cities continues to make use of his platform to foster and domesticate a neighborhood of inclusivity and to offer a voice to those that have traditionally been marginalized.

Cities has additionally spotlighted important points associated to mass incarceration and the shortage of assets inside the justice system, along with issues inside the schooling system. Cities devoted each time and monetary help, as a producer for the documentary movie “Forgiving Johnny.” The brief movie explores how digital transformation permits change inside the justice system, following Johnny and his public defender, Noah Cox, as they navigate the complicated authorized system.

Cities offered extra funding to Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed movie “Origin”, and he supported the Array Alliance and their name to motion for younger folks to expertise the movie and encourage folks to have interaction with studying banned books.

This marks the second time Cities has been named a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion finalist, beforehand, in 2022 for his social justice work following the homicide of George Floyd.

CJ McCollum (New Orleans Pelicans), Russell Westbrook (LA Clippers), Lindy Waters III (Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder) and Bam Adebayo (Miami Warmth) be part of Cities as this 12 months’s 5 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion finalists. The profitable participant’s chosen beneficiary will obtain $100,000. The winner might be introduced in Might.