CNN
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The Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation (WNBPA) marked the one hundredth day of Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia by renewing requires her launch.
“Brittney Griner is our teammate, our pal, and our sister. She is a record-breaker, a gold medalist, a spouse, a daughter, a champion, a task mannequin, an all-star, and a lot extra,” the WNBA stated in a press release on Saturday.
“Proper now, BG is an American citizen who has been wrongfully detained in Russia for 100 days. That’s 144,000 minutes.”
The 2-time Olympic gold medalist was arrested in February at a Moscow airport whereas taking part in for UMMC Ekaterinburg through the WNBA offseason.
Russian authorities claimed to have discovered hashish oil in her baggage and accused her of smuggling vital quantities of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by as much as 10 years in jail. Earlier this month, a Russian court docket prolonged the 31-year-old athlete’s pretrial detention till no less than June.
The US authorities has said Griner is being wrongfully detained and the State Division is working to barter her launch.
The WNBPA’s assertion requires motion from skilled and novice athletes, in addition to the media and followers.
“To our sisters, brothers and colleagues in skilled sports activities: signal the petition, maintain your individual media blackouts, please. Assist us attain the White Home.
“To athletes of any age, potential stage, crew, sport, or nation: that is OUR teammate. A member of OUR world sports activities group, we have to arise and stand collectively to name for her launch. Converse up, converse out, and don’t cease till BG is house.
“To the media: write BG’s story. Use your platform and your voices.
“To everybody listening: go to WeAreBG.org and signal the petition, name the White Home and name everybody you realize. If you realize anybody within the Biden administration, CALL THEM.”
The assertion additionally calls on President Joe Biden to fulfill straight with Cherelle Griner, the athlete’s spouse.
“Cherelle NEEDS to fulfill with President Biden. Her particular person, our sister has been wrongfully detained for 100 days. You’ve heard our pleas. You’ve got heard BG’s spouse Cherelle’s pleas. And now greater than ever, we want you to face with us, and get her particular person house.”
Earlier on Saturday, Cherelle Griner posted on her Instagram pleading for motion from President Biden: “100 days of being wrongfully detained, @potus deliver BG house!”
Cherelle Griner concluded the publish with a hyperlink to the petition calling for the basketball participant’s swift and secure return to the US.
On Wednesday, Cherelle Griner gave her first interview since her spouse’s arrest on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” wherein she stated she speaks to Brittney “sporadically” by way of letters and he or she “completely” needs to talk to President Biden about her ongoing detention.
