Sports providing message of unity

"CAPE GIRARDEAU CARES ABOUT EVERYONE."

That's what was printed on the backs of shirts worn by participants at a Stop the Violence basketball game held recently at Indian Park.

Isiah "Hoopie" Jones, who recently wrapped up a two-year career as a member of the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team, organized the event, which was focused on uniting the general public with law enforcement and first responders through a game of pickup basketball.

Jones told Southeast Missourian sports editor Josh Mlot that he grew up in an area of "unnecessary violence" in Illinois, and he wanted to "give people something positive to talk about," in the midst of civil unrest across the country.

Police and firefighters played alongside members of the community, and Southeast men's basketball coach Rick Ray and women's basketball coach Rekha Patterson served as coaches. Dozens of people came just to watch and show their support for the message Jones wanted the night to be about.

"It's a shame when you see what's going on in our society," Ray said. "One thing that ends up happening is people think that if you're for 'black lives matter,' that you're for law enforcement people losing their lives. And that police are against 'black lives matter.' The message we've got to send out is, 'I'm for all lives matter.' I don't care if it's African-American, Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic. To me, we've got to make sure we're doing everything we can to bring the community together and not have opposition."

It's the second such event put together by Redhawk student-athletes. The Southeast football team joined forces with police and other law enforcement for a "Cops and Hawks Bowl" flag football tournament that raised money for the Backstoppers organization.

Kudos to these athletes for making the effort to bring our community together and using their voices to share such a positive message.

"We don't always have to resort to violence," Jones said. "You can always turn bad into good. You've seen the outcome -- it was really good."