Caucus on Black Women and Girls Statement on Brittney Griner’s Wrongful Detainment in Russia

The co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Robin Kelly (IL-02) issued the following statement regarding the Russian government’s detainment of WNBA player Brittney Griner: 

"For three months now, Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia on alleged drug charges. 

"Griner is a star professional athlete. She is also a Black woman. As the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, we cannot help but imagine that a white male athlete in her position would receive more attention. Yet today, the world seems to have forgotten Brittney Griner. 

"We have not forgotten her, and we as a nation must not forget her. The fact remains that the Russian government — the same Russian government currently committing atrocities in Ukraine — is wrongfully holding an American citizen against her will. I thank the Biden Administration for their efforts to secure her release, and my thoughts are with the Griner family during this unfathomably difficult time."