Hawks officials had agreed to meet civil rights leaders following the controversy that aroused for the team with regards to Racism.
Atlanta Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson was embroiled in a controversy after he turned himself in to the NBA Officials informing that he had sent out an email with racism content.
Levenson sent an email to Hawks President Danny Ferry saying that the Hawks fanbase are heavily African-American and that it drives away the whites.
According to Levenson statement "I wrote an e-mail two years ago that was inappropriate and offensive. I trivialized our fans by making clichéd assumptions about their interests (i.e., hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders, etc.) and by stereotyping their perceptions of one another (i.e., that white fans might be afraid of our black fans). By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans."
The Rev. Markel Hutchins said that he and other members of the team wishes to discuss what they believe to be a racist attitude permeating the entire organization.
He said in a news conference outside Philips Arena "Evidently the culture of racism and bigotry that is pervasive and ever-present in the Atlanta Hawks leadership is embarrassing to the city of Atlanta and undermines the very best of Atlanta's history of race relations and being a leader for the nation and the world."
The players' union issued a statement last Monday saying they are also following developments closely. Ron Klempner, acting executive director of the NBPA said "We've had continuing discussions with the league office about the incidents of disturbing statements attributed to representatives of the Atlanta Hawks' franchise. We recognize that there is an ongoing investigation regarding the circumstances, and we will continue to monitor these events and take any action we deem appropriate."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Sunday Koonin now will now be overseeing all team operations for the Hawks.
Silver admired Levenson for opening up about the matter as well as for his honesty. He said "I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully cooperative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first."
