Current:Home > FinanceCivil rights lawyer Ben Crump advertises his firm on patches worn by US Open tennis players -WealthConverge Strategies
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump advertises his firm on patches worn by US Open tennis players
View
Date:2025-04-17 08:50:06
NEW YORK (AP) — Prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is advertising on players’ outfits at the U.S. Open Grand Slam tennis tournament this week, placing his firm’s name on sponsor patches worn during matches.
“Ben Crump Law” appeared on the left sleeve of the blue shirt worn by the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac on Thursday while he was eliminating 16th-seeded American Sebastian Korda in the second round. Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic wore the same type of patch mentioning Crump’s law practice during a loss to 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday.
Crump is a Florida-based attorney who has been the voice for the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown — Black people whose deaths at the hands of police and vigilantes sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.
His role in some of the most consequential cases of police brutality over the past decade and a half prompted the Rev. Al Sharpton to call Crump “Black America’s attorney general.”
Asked whether he knows who Crump is, Machac said: “A bit. Not much.”
“I just focus on tennis,” Machac said, “and (my) agent is responsible for that.”
Machac is a 23-year-old player who is currently ranked 39th in the world in singles. He won a gold medal in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.
Representatives of less-prominent players at major tennis tournaments often will strike last-minute deals for sponsorship patches.
In a phone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Crump said the legacy of Arthur Ashe, both on and off the tennis court, aligns with his work on cases involving police misconduct and exploitation of historically marginalized people.
“The reason we decided to do a sponsorship package in this way was in part because I am still inspired by (Ashe’s) legacy,” said Crump, who plans to attend the U.S. Open this weekend.
“We are sponsoring the underdog in up to 10 of the matches, which also appeals to me, because I always fight for the underdog,” he said. “The sponsorship helps the underdog players who obviously don’t have name-brand sponsors but deserve just as much of a chance to display their talents and compete against the best in the world, to have a chance at being champions.”
Crump said the primary purpose of the patches was not about generating business for his firm.
“It’s about us supporting diversity and inclusion, where every person, no mater their economic status, will be able to display their talents and compete on as equal a playing field as possible,” he said. “Hopefully when (fans) see the ‘Ben Crump’ patch on the jerseys of the players, they will think about how social justice is important in all aspects of society, in courtrooms and sports arenas.”
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- You Might’ve Missed This Euphoria Star’s Cameo on The Idol Premiere
- Trump’s Forest Service Planned More Logging in the Yaak Valley, Environmentalists Want Biden To Make it a ‘Climate Refuge’
- State Department report on chaotic Afghan withdrawal details planning and communications failures
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Bindi Irwin Honors Parents Steve and Terri's Eternal Love in Heartfelt Anniversary Message
- Jessie J Pays Tribute to Her Boyfriend After Welcoming Baby Boy
- UPS strike imminent if pay agreement not reached by Friday, Teamsters warn
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Huge Western Fires in 1910 Changed US Wildfire Policy. Will Today’s Conflagrations Do the Same?
Ranking
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Country singer Kelsea Ballerini hit in the face with bracelet while performing
- Bling Empire Stars Pay Tribute to “Mesmerizing” Anna Shay Following Her Death
- Kaley Cuoco Reveals Her Daughter Matilda Is Already Obsessed With the Jonas Brothers
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- 24-Hour Solar Energy: Molten Salt Makes It Possible, and Prices Are Falling Fast
- Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: Affirmative action ruling eliminates a valuable tool for universities
- New York’s Giant Pension Fund Doubles Climate-Smart Investment
Recommendation
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
Don’t Miss This $62 Deal on $131 Worth of Philosophy Perfume and Skincare Products
The Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Climate Change. Is it Ready to Decide Which Courts Have Jurisdiction?
Save 65% On Bareminerals Setting Powder, Lock In Your Makeup, and Get Rid of Shine
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Two Years Ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Was Praised for Appointing Science and Resilience Officers. Now, Both Posts Are Vacant.
Man with weapons and Jan. 6 warrant arrested after running toward Obamas' D.C. home
24-Hour Solar Energy: Molten Salt Makes It Possible, and Prices Are Falling Fast