Golfers Opposing Bigotry, an independent group of concerned citizens, have launched an online petition campaign that seeks to pressure the United States Golf Association (USGA) and The PGA of America to sever their existing ties with Donald Trump, and to cease holding major championships at his golf properties. In addition to the stated demands, the petition urges the PGA Tour and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) not to enter into new golf partnerships with Trump.
Oppose Golf’s Partnership with Trump.
The point of view of the petition advocates:
“Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric and exclusionary policy proposals are divisive and dangerous. Despite professed disagreement with his abhorrent views and statements, two of American golf’s leading bodies have continued doing business with him, and as such, they reward him materially and give him and his views undeserved legitimacy.”
The petition went live for signatures on July 6, 2016, on MoveOn.org, a popular online petition website site operated by MoveOn.org Civic Action and designed to create, circulate and transmit petitions on public policy issues, policies, and legislation. The petition can be viewed and signed at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/oppose-golfs-partnership
The petition is being widely circulated for signatures and when completed on a date yet to be determined, it is to be delivered to:
- Mike Davis, Executive Director, USGA
- Peter Bevacqua, CEO, PGA of America
- Timothy Finchem, Commissioner, PGA Tour
- Michael Whan, Commissioner, LPGA
Read the Long Version of the Petition
Golfers Opposing Bigotry Campaign Coordinators:
Calvin H. Sinnette, MD
An avid golfer for more than fifty years, Calvin H. Sinnette is a 1949 graduate of Howard University College of Medicine and is Emeritus Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the same institution. As part of his interest in the African American golf experience, over the past three decades, Sinnette has acquired an extensive collection of African American golf memorabilia. His book, Forbidden Fairways; African Americans and the Game of Golf, was published in 1998 and reissued with a new introduction in 2015 by Black Classic Press.
Jeffrey T. Sammons, Ph.D.
Jeffrey T. Sammons is a professor of history at New York University. He is the author of Beyond the Ring: The Role of Boxing in American Society and coauthor of Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment and the Quest for African American Equality. Sammons has written widely on the subject of sport and race and has participated in and consulted on numerous documentary projects with independent filmmakers as well as large television networks. He was until recently deeply involved in efforts of the USGA to collect, preserve, and present that which relates to the African-American experience in golf. He also was on the editorial boards of The Journal of Sport History and Sport and Social Issues.
Cedrick Smith, MD
Cedrick Smith is highly respected in Preventive and Occupational medical circles for his innovations in providing efficient and cost-effective healthcare. He has served as Clinic Medical Director for a national leading occupational and urgent care service provider for 15 years. He gave up football after high school after quarterbacking the highly touted Dallas Carter Cowboys from 1985-1987. He started playing golf at the age of 7 and had a successful junior golf career. Dr. Smith parlayed his golfing prowess into a four-year golf scholarship to Hampton University where he was four-time MVP, two-time National Minority Collegiate Golf Association All-America and named Hampton University Athlete of the Year his senior year. In 1991 he was awarded a USGA Howard Creel Fellowship and worked on grants for junior golf programs.
Contact the Organizers of the Petition at:
petitions.moveon.org/contact_creator.html?petition_id=111751
(Disclaimer: African American Golfer’s Digest has not endorsed any of the candidates running for president of the Unites States. The above post is for news and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as an endorsement or non-endorsement of neither candidates. Therefore we are not encouraging or discouraging anyone from participating in the above petition.)
