WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following an ESPN investigation that found human rights concerns inside an NBA youth-development program in Communist China, including physical abuse of young players and a failure to provide schooling.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The link between the NBA’s operations in China and the human rights abuses of the Chinese Communist Party are even stronger than we previously knew. Reports of abuse at NBA academies in Communist China are absolutely disgusting, and the fact that the NBA turned a blind eye for so long is horrific.

“The NBA continues to appease Communist China and refuses to stand up for the people of Hong Kong because they care more about profits than human rights. When do we, as freedom-loving Americans, say enough is enough? The NBA must answer for this and immediately tell us when they first knew about the abuse and how they responded. And they need to stop playing games in Communist China. Anything less is unacceptable.”

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