Local university professors pen open letter, urging Sidney Crosby to skip White House visit
Posted Sep 28, 2017 12:47:29 PM.
Last Updated Sep 28, 2017 12:47:45 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Two Mount Saint Vincent history professors are joining the call for NHL superstar Sidney Crosby to skip a planned trip to the White House.
The Cole Harbour native has been at the centre of debate after announcing this week that he would be accepting an invitation to meet President Donald Trump, with the rest of his team, as part of the celebrations for winning the Stanley Cup.
Professors Jonathan Roberts and Corey Slumkowski have written an open letter to Crosby, outlining the reasons why he should decline the invite.
Roberts said the Penguins captain doesn’t have to look much further than his own backyard for a legitimate reason to change his mind and not go.
“The geography of his hometown has been determined by race,” said Roberts. “This isn’t something that you can just pretend doesn’t exist. You don’t necessarily have to be an activist but when you’re asked to go to the White House with the kind of president we have today, then we suggest to him it’s time to make a decision.”
Slumkowski adds that Crosby was trying to be non-political by accepting Trump’s invite, but adds that any trip to the White House will be politicized.
