Congressman Jim McGovern Calls on the NBA to Sever Partnership with the UAE

Congressman Jim McGovern and civil society and Sudanese activists held a press conference yesterday calling on the NBA to end its partnership with Emirates, the state-owned airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the NBA Finals kick off.

Massachusetts U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) has led a prominent campaign pushing the NBA to sever its corporate partnerships with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, he argues that the UAE uses the sport for “sports washing” to cover up its military and financial support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s civil war.The specific legislative and advocacy details regarding his basketball-related efforts include:UAE and Sudan Advocacy: Rep. McGovern has actively pressured the NBA to cancel partnerships with UAE-linked entities like Emirates airlines. He argues that major sports leagues and the NBA are inadvertently fueling the conflict and atrocities in Sudan by accepting UAE investments.