Several major sporting events in the U.S. were forced to be canceled on Wednesday as players from the NBA, MLB, MLS, ATP and WTA have made the bold and unprecedented move of boycotting games in protest at the police shooting of Jacob Blake. 

A large number of athletes and coaches were infuriated by the infamous incident with Blake, an African-American man shot seven times in the back while attempting to enter his vehicle on Sunday. The 29-year-old is reportedly paralyzed from the waist down and protests have engulfed Kenosha, Wisconsin.  

The Wisconsin-based Milwaukee Bucks were the first to make the decision to boycott Game 5 of their NBA playoff game with the Orlando Magic. 

"Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we've seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protesters," the Bucks players said in a statement. "Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball."

The walkout was publicly supported by former U.S. President Barack Obama, who tweeted later on Wednesday: "I commend the players on the Bucks for standing up for what they believe in... It's going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values."

The Bucks ownership confirmed they were not aware ahead of time of what the players were planning but supported them. "The only way to bring about change is to shine a light on racial injustices that are happening in front of us," said co-owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan.

The Bucks' senior vice president, Alex Lasry, tweeted: "Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and organization shows that we're fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I'm incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change." 

On an extraordinary day for the NBA, Wednesday's other two playoff showdowns were also later called off.  "Today's three games – Bucks vs. Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers – have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled," the league confirmed in a statement. 

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James took to Twitter to express his anger. "WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT," James wrote. 

Several NFL players voiced support for the Bucks on social media. "NBA is showing us how it's done," wrote Houston Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills. "Time to connect with local activists to help formulate demands."

U.S. sports grind to a halt 

The boycotts quickly spilled over other sports, with Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds refusing to play their MLB fixture on Wednesday as the protest escalated into a full-scale crisis in the U.S. sports. 

"With our community and our nation in such pain, we wanted to draw as much attention to the issues that really matter, especially racial injustice and systemic oppression," the Brewers said in a statement explaining their boycott. 

The Seattle Mariners also voted not to take to the field in their game against the San Diego Padres in Southern California. 

The WNBA then followed suit. All three games scheduled for Wednesday, involving the Atlanta Dream and the Washington Mystics, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx, and the Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury, were postponed after players boycott. 

Meanwhile, the MLS match between Atlanta United and Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday, was postponed after players on both teams decided to not play. Later, FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids, San Jose vs. Portland, LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake, and LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders were also called off.

According to ESPN, the NHL is expected to hold a 'moment of reflection' before the games between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning in Toronto, and the Dallas Star and Colorado Avalanche in Edmonton.

Protests against racial injustice has spread to tennis as organizers of the ATP/WTA Western & Southern Open in New York confirmed that the tournament will be suspended until Friday. 

"As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States," read a statement. 

"The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have decided to recognize this moment in time by pausing tournament play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27.  Play will resume on Friday, August 28," it added. 

The decision came as two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka earlier announced that she has withdrawn from her Western & Southern Open semifinal match in New York on Thursday.  

"Before I am an athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis," Osaka said on Twitter. 

"I don't expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction." 

"Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach. I'm exhausted of having a new hashtag pop up every few days and I'm extremely tired of having this same conversation over and over again. When will it ever be enough?" she added.

A collective awakening 

There has been increasing anger about police brutality and racial injustice among players since the NBA restarted its coronavirus-disrupted season last month in Orlando. Bucks guard George Hill has questioned whether games should continue considering the tension that arose from the video of Blake's shooting. 

"We shouldn't have even came to this damn place [Orlando], to be honest," he said on Monday. "I think coming just here took all the focal points off what the issues are. But we're here, so it is what it is. We can't do anything from right here, but I think definitely, when it's all settled, some things have to be done." 

"I think this world has to change. I think our police department has to change. Us as society have to change. And, right now we're not seeing any of that. Lives are being taken, as we speak, day in and day out, and there's no consequence or accountability for it, and that's what has to change," he added. 

"We're the ones getting killed," Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said in an emotional speech Tuesday night. "We're the ones getting shot. We're the ones that we’re denied to live in certain communities. We've been hung. We've been shot. And all you do is keep hearing about fear. It's amazing why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back. And it's just, it's really so sad." 

According to AP, NBA players are scheduled for a meeting in Florida later on Wednesday to determine their next steps, including whether to continue the postseason. NBA TV revealed that some players are contemplating leaving the bubble near Orlando.

Before the meeting, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association Michele Roberts, the first woman to head a major professional sports union in North America, issued a statement.  

"Throughout the season restart, our players have been unwavering in their demands for systemic justice. This week we witnessed another horrific, shocking and all too familiar act of brutality in the shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin," said Roberts. 

"The Players have, once again, made it clear - they will not be silent on this issue. We stand with the decision of the players of the Milwaukee Bucks to protest this injustice and support the collective decision to postpone all of today's games," she added. 

Further escalation could be on the cards. Multiple U.S. media outlets reported late on Wednesday that Lakers and their city rivals Clippers have voted to abandon the NBA season, as both teams called for the whole campaign to be scrapped in the wake of Blake's shooting in Wisconsin.