By Demetrius Dillard
What Brittney Griner is experiencing overseas is a microcosm of the adversities Black people face all over the globe.
Griner is a women’s basketball icon and one of the most well-known athletes in the world. The earth-shattering news of her detainment in Russia set the sports world ablaze and has raised concerns among many Americans and prompted supporters to work for her release.
The 6-foot-9 All-Star forward for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury plays overseas during the offseason, as do many of her WNBA counterparts. Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg is her team of choice. She was reportedly arrested last month after Russian officers found hashish oil (cannabis extract/concentrate) in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.
In Russia, marijuana (cannabis) is completely illegal. It is said that if one is caught with the substance, charges can carry heavy consequences, particularly for foreigners.
Not to justify Griner’s violation of Russian law, but as a Black foreigner, the slightest offense can be even more costly. In Griner’s case, Russian officials have detained her for an offense that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
On March 5, the U.S. Department of State issued a Do Not Travel advisory for Russia “due to the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine,” which has caused further concerns. The advisory warned Americans to depart the country immediately because of the growing “potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials.”
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) recently released a statement regarding Griner’s situation.
“We are aware of the situation in Russia concerning one of our members, Brittney Griner. Our utmost concern is BG’s safety and well-being,” the statement says. “On behalf of The 144, we send our love and support. We will continue to closely monitor and look forward to her return to the U.S.”
Likewise, the Phoenix Mercury released a similarly worded statement: “We are aware of and are closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia. We remain in constant contact with her family, her representation, the WNBA and NBA. We love and support Brittney and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home.”
Reigning WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones, a star forward for the Connecticut Sun, is Griner’s teammate for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg women’s basketball team. She fortunately made it out of the country, expressing her relief in a social media post from March 2.
“Just landed in Turkey and all I want to do is cry. That situation was way more stressful than I realized. Thank you God for always watching over and protecting me,” Jones tweeted.
“To everybody that messaged me, checked on me, asked a friend about me while I was in Russia I really want to say thank you. I felt that love [for real].”
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is not the only American detained on Russian soil. A CNN report reveals that Paul Whelan, 52, and Trevor Reed, 30, are also being held in Russia, but for what appears to be more serious charges.
Griner’s whereabouts haven’t been shared by authorities and remain unknown, according to reports as “details of her detention in Moscow remain in question.”
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred has expressed his willingness to collaborate with the State Department to secure Griner’s release from Russia.
“Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance and that includes in Russia,” said the Democrat from Griner’s home state of Texas.
He has acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation and hopes he and fellow political leaders can quickly facilitate Griner’s release, according to a report by ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel.
“I know the administration is working hard to try and get access to her and try to be helpful here. But obviously, it’s also happening in the context of really strained relations. I do think that it’s really unusual that we’ve not been granted access to her from our embassy and our consular services,” said Allred, a Baylor graduate and former NFL player with the Tennessee Titans.
“The Russian criminal justice system is very different than ours, very opaque. We don’t have a lot of insight into where she is in that process right now. But she’s been held for three weeks now, and that’s extremely concerning.”
Photo Provided By: Paul Einerhand
