#Petition: Basketball star arrested in Russia - Secure Brittney Griner’s Swift and Safe Return to the U​.​S.

Brittney Griner is a WNBA star who—like many other WNBA players—plays overseas during the off-season. Over the weekend, it was publicly announced that Griner has been in Russian custody for the past three weeks. According to Russian officials, she was arrested near Moscow for having vape pen cartridges and still remains in their custody. At a time where US-Russia relations are reaching a boiling point, many are concerned for the safety of Brittney, who is a Black gay American woman. Join sports journalist Tamryn in demanding for her safe return home by adding your name today. Secure Brittney Griner’s Swift and Safe Return to the U​.​S. 5,926 have signed Tamryn Spruill’s petition. Let’s get to 7,500!

Sign now with a click

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner was detained by Russia while attempting to move through a Moscow airport, the New York Times reports. League veteran Angel McCoughtry shared that Griner had been detained for three weeks already by the time the story hit the Times.  Griner is a beloved global citizen who has used her platform since her entry into the WNBA to help others.  Griner was in Russia for work: playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg, where in 2021 she helped the team win its fifth EuroLeague Women championship. Like many athletes competing in the WNBA, Griner plays abroad during the WNBA offseason because her salary is exponentially higher in other countries. Professional athletes never know when their careers will come to an end. Thus, they must compete today with tomorrow’s financial security in mind. For WNBA players, that means playing abroad, while NBA rookies who haven’t played a professional game yet are handed salaries many-times higher that what title-winning, All-Star designated WNBA veterans could ever hope for.   These realities are not the fault of the players. They simply want to be paid their worth like their male counterparts, and they do not deserve to be entangled in geopolitical turmoil for doing so.  Thus, we call on elected officials in this country to secure the safe and swift return of Brittney Griner to the U.S.: U.S. Department of State Contact Page Arizona Senators                                                            Kyrsten Sinema (202) 224-2235 Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235 Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s                Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation  Majority Members: Shaheen, Jeanne (NH), Chairman Cardin, Benjamin L. (MD) Murphy, Christopher (CT) Van Hollen, Chris (MD) Coons, Christopher A. (DE) Menendez, Robert (NJ), Ex Officio Minority Members: Johnson, Ron (WI), Ranking Member Barrasso, John (WY) Romney, Mitt (UT) Portman, Rob (OH) Young, Todd (IN) Risch, James E. (ID), Ex Officio House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks, Chairman Phone: (202) 225-3461 Email: Melissa.Barosy@mail.house.gov Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber Subcommittee William Keating, Chair, (202) 225-3111 Brian Fitzpatrick, Ranking Member, (202) 225-4276 US Ambassador to Russia                                                John J. Sullivan,+7 (495) 728-5000

Sign now with a click

Visit petition page

At Change.org, we believe in the voice of everyday people. Is there something that you want to change? Start a petition today