When quarterback Colin
Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem at NFL games during the 2016
football season, he quickly became a symbol of a renewed era of athlete
activism, triggering collegiate and professional athlete activists across the
country to join demonstrations and sparking national conversations about racism
and police brutality. But athlete activism is much broader and extends to
philanthropic work as well as public stands on political and social issues.
Sports teams, leagues, and governing bodies have adopted the tenets of corporate
social responsibility and take stands and support initiatives on a wide range
of social issues. In staking out positions on political and social questions,
sports industry participants can face legal ramifications and risk. This
program examines both public and private law issues that may arise whenever
individuals and organizations choose to engage in social and political
activism. For example, public expression from professional athletes may be
circumscribed by their collective bargaining agreements and team or league
personal conduct codes. Morality clauses in endorsement contracts may be
triggered by an athletes statements or actions or athletes may be concerned
about conduct or business practices of their sponsors. First Amendment
considerations must be reconciled with contractual obligations.
Business
meeting at program conclusion.