“Sportswashing to distract from human right abuse”: LIV Golf faces backlash as it lands in Portland for second event
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LIV Golf Series
The second event of the LIV Golf series is now underway at Portland- but not quite successfully, as the Series faces much backlash from protestors not only from the city but all over the world. A group of survivors and families who lost their loved ones have gathered outside the location at a garden to raise their voices against the controversial Saudi backed series.
Eagleson, who lost his father in the 9/11 attack “We want the golfers to know who they’re getting in bed with, who they’re doing business with,” Eagleson said to the Guardian. “Any golfer that chooses to go play for the LIV tournament should have to listen to the family members and look us in the eye, and explain to us why they’re taking the Saudi money and why they’re playing in this tournament.”
LIV Golf ‘not welcome’ to Portland: Series receives backlash from communities
The LIV Golf series is going on at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, but North Plains’ mayor and those from surrounding cities wrote the Texas-based owner of the club to protest the event, saying that it did not align with their values. “We oppose this event because it is being sponsored by a repressive government whose human rights abuses are documented. We refuse to support these abuses by complicitly allowing the Saudi-backed organization to play in our backyard.” said the statement. US Senator Ron Wyden went as far as to say that the Series was a clear sign of ‘sportswashing’ to distract from the human rights abuses.
“It’s wrong to be silent when Saudi Arabia tries to cleanse blood-stained hands, in the fight for Oregonians to get justice – Fallon Smart was killed very close to our house in southeast Portland, and the person charged with the crime, a hit-and-run death, was, based on all the evidence, whisked out of the country by the Saudis before he stood for trial,” Wyden said.
Also read: “It’s a joke” – Fred Couples blasts Phil Mickelson and golfers who deflected LIV Golf Invitational
Also Read: “Winning lottery for me” – Pat Perez speaks about his move to LIV Golf Invitational Series
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Saivee Phatak
(1164 Articles Published)