Michael Jordan and his brands donated $2.5 million to combat voter suppression

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Michael Jordan is joining the fight against Black voter suppression. The legendary athlete, along with the Jordan brand, are donating $2.5 million to the cause.

This donation is part of an initiative that Jordan and the Jordan Brand first announced on June 5, in the midst of ever-growing protests against racism and police brutality. Jordan pledged to commit $100 million over the course of 10 years to “directly impact the fight against systemic racism,” according to a statement.

The first priority in that pledge was social justice: “Seeking to increase civic engagement from the Black community to address issues that disproportionately affect them, such as voter suppression and criminal justice reform.”

Jordan will donate $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. and $1 million to the Formerly Incarcerated and Convicted People and Families Movement. The last $500,000 will go toward the Black Voters Matter organization.

These three organizations were chosen based on their ability to immediately and effectively impact Black communities. They’ll focus their work on regions where Black people are underrepresented in voter registration and turnout numbers.

This dedication to continue fighting inequality was also declared on Twitter on July 29:

In a statement, Jordan wrote that there’s a “long history of oppression against Black Americans that holds us back from full participation in American society.”

“We understand that one of the main ways we can change systemic racism is at the polls,” Jordan wrote. “We know it will take time for us to create the change we want to see, but we are working quickly to take action for the Black Community’s voice to be heard.”

In addition, Jordan Brand president Craig Williams shared that the $100 million pledge is just the start of the brand’s plans. Williams’ quote was also posted to Twitter on July 29.

“We are moving from commitment to action,” Williams stated. “Our initial partners can directly impact the social and political well-being of the Black community. We will have a disciplined focus on social justice, economic justice and education, as the most effective ways for us to eliminate the systemic racism that remains in society.”

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