PHOENIX –
They shared laughs, smiles, memories. There were also tears, fears, uneasiness.
A common thread connected them through the range of emotions: Brittney Griner.
Several hundred fans wearing “BG” shirts and holding signs gathered Wednesday for a public rally in support of Griner, hoping their feelings will reach the WNBA player 6,000 miles away in a Russian jail cell would.
“It’s really painful and hard to watch, and it really upset a lot of us,” said Kelly Gedney of Surprise, Arizona. “We can feel the fear she has. It creeps me out that she’s in a cage when she travels to her court hearings. She has been unjustly detained and we will do everything we can to bring her home.”
Griner has spent the past four months in a Russian prison and is currently on trial. She is accused of possessing vape cartridges of cannabis oil when she arrived at Moscow Airport returning to play for her Russian team and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The WNBA and US officials have worked unsuccessfully to free Griner. Griner was able to send a handwritten letter to President Joe Biden saying she fears spending the rest of her life in prison while urging the government not to forget other American inmates.
President Biden called Griner’s wife, Cherelle, Wednesday to let her know he was working to free her as soon as possible.
“One hundred and thirty-nine days have passed since my wife was able to speak to me, our family and our friends,” Cherelle Griner said during the rally, pausing several times to collect herself. “I’m frustrated that my wife isn’t doing justice. I know you are all frustrated too. That’s why you’re here.”
The rally at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Mercury and Suns, was part of celebrating Griner’s accomplishments on and off the pitch with a call to action.
The rally featured videos of Griner giving back to the community, dancers and a dramatic poetry reading while many of the Mercury teammates sat together in chairs on the right side of the court.
Phoenix Suns player Torey Craig spoke, as did Mercury player Brianna Turner.
“Knowing BG is knowing such a kind spirit, such a nice person, such a giver — I can go on and on about the kind of person she is,” said Turner, who has also been able to exchange letters with Griner. “We have to get her home. She deserves to be home. She needs to go back to her family and friends. We are BG.”
Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, the former mayor of Phoenix, was also in attendance after he pushed through a resolution earlier this week calling for Griner’s immediate release and passed by the US House of Representatives.
“Today was important, a demonstration of unity, speaking with one voice, that we expect our President and our administration to do whatever it takes to bring our fellow Americans home,” Stanton said.
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