Pence's Chief of Staff Criticizes NBA Boycott as "Absurd" and "Silly"

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Marc Short, the Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence, criticized NBA players who’ve opted not to play games as part of a protest against police brutality against Black Americans, calling the boycotts “absurd” and “silly.”

“I don’t know that you’re going to see the administration weigh in on that one way or the other. In my mind, it’s absurd, it’s silly,” Short told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day” when asked if the vice president supports the boycott.

“If they want to protest, I don’t think we care,” he added, noting that the administration shouldn’t speak out on the boycott “one way or the other.”

Last night, @Mike_Pence drew a contrast between an America that continues to hope for more freedoms but also continues to protect our law enforcement vs. an America that would lead to socialism and decline and continue to attack our law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/RlGDZnTo7H

— Marc Short 45 Archived (@marcshort45) August 27, 2020

The NBA announced it would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff series (Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers) in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, who is currently paralyzed after he was shot in the back by police in Wisconsin.

The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.

— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2020

The shooting ignited the latest round of protests against racial injustice and police brutality that have taken place since May, when George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by police officers in Minneapolis.